Over the last few months, a lot has changed in the cricket fraternity of India. Kohli from being the leader in all formats quit his captaincy in T20Is, Tests, and was replaced as the skipper in ODIs. His decision to give up Test captaincy came only after a day of India’s 1-2 series defeat against South Africa.
The BCCI has roped in 5 times IPL winning skipper Rohit Sharma as the new limited-overs leader for the Men In Blue but is yet to announce Kohli’s successor in red-ball cricket.
Rahul, Pant or Sharma? Debates intensify
Experts are divided in their opinions of who will be the perfect option for leading India in Tests. Veterans like Sunil Gavaskar, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina believe young wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant to be India’s next potential Test captain. Many also place their bets on KL Rahul who led India in the 2nd Test to be at the helm of the Indian dressing room.
Former opener and 2011 WC-winning cricketer Gautam Gambhir backs Rohit Sharma to lead India across all formats. From winning the maximum number of titles in the toughest T20 league of the globe to lead the Men In Blue to an Asia Cup victory in the absence of key players, backs Rohit Sharma to lead India across all formats. Sharma’s acumen as a captain is not unknown to the world of cricket.
Left Test Team in “Good Health”, Gambhir lauds Kohli
Rohit Sharma sealed his spot in the Test squad as an opener after India’s successful 2-1 campaign against England in Tests. But his issues with fitness must be a worry for the selectors. Gambhir in his column reckons,
“In my book, Rohit Sharma should lead India across all formats with Rahul as his deputy. One captain across formats will ensure consistency in style and approach of the Indian team especially considering that we have another T20 World Cup later in the year,”
Gambhir further praised Kohli for his illustrious stint as the Test captain and credited him to have built a strong team in the longest format of the game.
“Between the last Test and ODI series, the new space has been hogged by Virat resigning from Test captaincy. I think it is an individual’s call and that is how it should be treated. I think Virat left the Indian Test team in good health but I can’t say the same about white-ball cricket. Our bowling resources in Test matches are a neighbor’s envy and owner’s pride. They have shown time and again that they are the engine room for a team’s performance. In limited-overs cricket, I’d have liked to see a more settled middle-order which Virat couldn’t create,” he wrote.
India lost the first 2 ODIs against South Africa giving the hosts an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series. The Men In Blue will play the final match on January 23 and hope to finish the tour on a positive note.
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