Like a bolt from the blue Virat Kohli left a huge void in the Test captaincy domain recently. The sudden development left everyone in the cricket fraternity dazed and has triggered some wild speculations from several quarters. However, the game must go on with or without Kohli at the helm of affairs, so several names are being tossed around by former cricketers as well as game experts to fill in the big boots.
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The new reality has even brought to the fore several questions in its wake as well: Who should be the next Test captain? Are you game for a split captaincy in Indian cricket? Should the leadership baton of Test format be passed on to the skipper in the short and shortest format? Let us find out answers for these by analyzing the credential of these prospective candidates.
Rohit Sharma
Being the captain of the ODIs and T-20s Rohit comes across as a straightforward choice in the long format as well. But the fitness issues surrounding the MI captain and the age factor warn the selection committee against putting all the eggs in one basket. Also, he should be willing to take up the top post in Test as there are two World Cups coming up in 2022 and 2023 and it is only fair not to add on to his burden by thrusting upon another big responsibility. So, one needs to take a call whether Indian cricket needs a stop-gap arrangement or a permanent solution. If it’s the latter then Rohit does not sit pretty as the skipper of Test cricket.
KL Rahul
The Karnataka lad is another viable alternative and he is already the vice-captain in all the formats and also recently, in the absence of Kohli, led the team in the Wanderers Test against South Africa. In the IPL as well he has captained KingsXI Punjab twice in 2020-21 and the BCCI has already zeroed him as an ideal choice for all the formats in future. Therefore, it won’t be a bad idea to hand over Test captaincy to him at the moment. However, Rahul has not looked at ease wearing the attire of captaincy as he has been found wanting on several occasions during the Wanderers Test. Even his IPL record as a leader is not flattering as well. So, choosing him would be a giant leap of faith for Indian cricket at the moment.
Rishabh Pant
The flamboyant southpaw from Delhi is a hot favourite among several legendary cricketers of the past, including Sunil Gavaskar, for the main lead in the long format. He has also been captaining the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals very efficiently as under him the erstwhile tournament laggards made the playoffs twice and finished runners up in 2020. Being a wicket-keeper he is in the right position to gauge the match situation to take the required course of action if needed. But, he is still very young and raw for the arduous nature of Test cricket and has often come under fire for his brash attitude as a batsman. So, should India take a gamble by having a young guy at the helm or should they wait for some more time for him to gel well with the role of captaincy? No clear cut answers here.
Ravichandran Ashwin
The veteran off-spinner is another option worth considering as he is endowed with cool composure, and he is a great reader of the game as well. Also, captaincy is not something new to him as he has led his home team Tamil Nadu and the IPL team Kings XI Punjab in the past. However, at 35, the age is clearly not on his side, and the fitness issues he is battling at the moment are big turn-offs. So, if India are looking for a long-term option, then Ashwin can’t be the choice, but if they want to groom a youngster for the post, then the Chennai tweaker can be appointed temporarily for the time being.
