Who will be next India Test Captain? The answer for the time being is unknown. With Rohit Sharma on the wrong side of 35, it is unlikely that he will continue to play Test cricket in the next two years. IND vs WI series may very well be Rohit’s last as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking at new options before the South Africa tour. However, the options are not plenty for India Test captaincy.
But before the BCCI names the next Test captain, it has to appoint a new chief selector. BCCI Selection Committee is without a fifth selector since Chetan Sharma stepped down. Shiv Sundar Das is leading the committee. With BCCI in no hurry, it is possible that only a four-member committee picks the squad for World Cup. When the new selector will take charge, the Test captaincy succession plan will be laid out.
- KL Rahul: Out of contention
- Rishabh Pant: Nursing long-term injury
- Shubman Gill: Too young and inexperienced
- Jasprit Bumrah: Injury prone
- Hardik Pandya: Not sure of Tests
- Shreyas Iyer: One to look out for
- Cheteshwar Pujara: On the wrong side of 35
Also Read: India Squad announcement next week, BCCI to discuss Test return with Hardik
Before handing over captaincy responsibility to Rohit Sharma, BCCI promised to groom the next one in KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant.
However, dwindling form has cost KL Rahul his chance while it’s still not certain when Pant will return to cricket. Pant is still recovering from a horrific car crash and had to undergo major ligament reconstruction surgery.
But a senior BCCI official confirmed that there are no immediate plans to remove Rohit. Instead, it will be a transition post-World Cup 2023.
“These are baseless stuff that Rohit will be removed from captaincy. Yes, whether he will last the whole two-year WTC cycle is a big question as he would be nearly 38 when the third edition ends in 2025,” a senior BCCI source told PTI.
The best window to discuss Test captaincy is between November and December before India leave for the South Africa tour. A lot of things will be clear, especially players’ fitness. Let’s look at the options India currently have.
Who are in contention to become India Test captain?
KL Rahul: Once tipped to be the next India captain, KL Rahul has fallen from grace. Injuries and poor form have not helped the Karnataka dasher. His place in the Test XI is also not guaranteed anymore.
Jasprit Bumrah: The star performer has had long and nagging injury struggles. He is still in the recovery phase. The big question is whether he will be able to sustain playing all three formats. If he does, the next question is how long before he breaks down again.
Rishabh Pant: After Rahul, the next best candidate was Rishabh Pant. But Pant is also in the recovery phase after the car crash. As per Delhi Capitals director Sourav Ganguly, it could take up to a year for him to return to competitive cricket. Hence, he is out of the question for now.
Shubman Gill: A long-term option and a sure-shot starter, Shubman can be the one. Termed the next big thing in Indian cricket, Gill is certainly one to look for. However, he is young and does not have the experience to lead a complex team like India at the moment.
Ravindra Jadeja: Another all-format player and definitely a star, Jadeja can be the next Test captain. However, considering his poor record and the fallout at Chennai Super Kings, there are certainly questions mark on his ability.
Shreyas Iyer: With Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara set to be phased out gradually, the next name is Shreyas Iyer. Once he returns from injury, Iyer will be a sure-shot starter in at least the longer formats. Hence, the selectors will certainly discuss the possibility ahead of the SA tour.
Hardik Pandya: The premier all-rounder is the unannounced full-time T20 captain. Once Rohit says goodbye to ODIs, Hardik is most likely to take over the mantle. However, Jr Pandya is not sure of Test cricket with past history of back injuries. Whether he can continue playing all three formats is also a huge question mark. Furthermore, due to his workload as an all-rounder, he will need frequent breaks. As the Test captain, he won’t have the luxury.
The other big name is Ravichandran Ashwin. Everyone agrees that he has the captaincy acumen. However, he is 36 and doesn’t even have the team management’s backing in overseas conditions even in WTC Final. Hence, he is likely to be out of the question as well. Another name that crops up is of Virat Kohli. But he won’t reclaim India Test captaincy again after relinquishing the responsibility following SA tour in 2021.
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