Is the end of Rohit Sharma’s Test captaincy coming soon? Over the years, we’ve seen that whenever any Indian captain consistently loses Test matches, their captaincy suddenly becomes a topic of discussion. We’ve seen this with Sourav Ganguly in the past, and even MS Dhoni faced scrutiny. Now, Rohit Sharma is facing the same fate. Rohit, who led India to a T20 World Cup victory this year and gracefully retired from the shorter format, has not had much success in Test cricket in recent times, except for the Bangladesh series where India defeated the visitors 2-0.
However, under his captaincy, the team struggled against New Zealand and lost the series 0-3, which became a major blot in India’s Test history. Currently, in the ongoing Test series, we saw how under Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership in the first game, India thrashed Australia by 295 runs. But when Rohit took over in the second Test, the team struggled again, losing by 10 wickets.
Many feel it may be time for Rohit to step down as captain. Some suggest he should give up the captaincy immediately, while others prefer to wait and see how the rest of the series plays out. Overall, it seems like the end of his tenure as Test captain is becoming more likely. If not now, then certainly in the upcoming months, we can expect some developments. But if not Rohit Sharma, then who? See three players who could replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain.
Players who can replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain
KL Rahul
Although he has only led the Indian team in three Test games, this wicketkeeper-batter is also a strong option. KL Rahul is known for being one of the most selfless players, always ready to contribute to the team without worrying too much about permutations and combinations. Whether batting in the middle order or opening, he consistently takes on the challenge with the same determination. Additionally, with vast captaincy experience in the IPL, first with PBKS and now with LSG, we’ve seen his win percentage increase. He is certainly a contender to take over the Test
captaincy.
Rishabh Pant
There is no hidden fact that, in the past, Rohit Sharma was considered a game changer, and now the same role is being taken up by a youngster. That’s right, Rishabh Pant has become a household name due to his heroics in Test cricket and the way he pulls off every shot, often sending the ball out of the park. He is truly a game changer, and the stats fully support him.
In Test cricket, he is India’s fourth-highest run scorer since 2018, with an impressive average of 44. He has also proven himself to be a decent captain for Delhi Capitals in the IPL, and now, with his acquisition by LSG for a big price, there are chances he may be given the captaincy for IPL 2025. There has been much speculation around this, with many believing that he could bring back aggression to the Indian team in whites. If we look at him as a whole package—his batting, wicket-keeping, and leadership skills—he certainly seems ready for the Test captaincy role.
Jasprit Bumrah
He has already shown his leadership skills in the first Test against Australia. While Bumrah may have less leadership experience, whatever experience he does have, he has demonstrated himself to be a true leader. As Rohit’s deputy, he was often seen offering support to the captain. Currently the leader of the bowling attack, he has shown that he can handle the full team and lead from the front.
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