Rohit Sharma could miss the first two Tests of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy. The 37-year-old isn’t just one of India’s best batters but also the captain. So, losing him won’t just weaken the batting line-up and force them to either find an opener or just Shubman Gill, but also leave the ship without a captain.
Who’s India’s Test vice-captain?
You see, Team India hasn’t announced who is Rohit Sharma’s deputy. Since 2022, only KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah have led the side, barring Rohit. But while they were vice-captains before, the position is vacant right now. It’s unsure who’ll take over as Team India’s captain if Rohit isn’t unavailable for the first two Tests of the India vs Australia series.
Right now, four players can take over the captaincy job. Two of these have been mentioned above (KL and Bumrah), while the others are Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill. The final call will be made by the selectors and the management, but we can see whose case is the strongest.
Bumrah captain, if Rohit Sharma’s unavailable?
Bumrah would likely be the first choice. He’s a sure-shot starter, and his game-reading skills are second to none. Given that he’ll just need to fill in Rohit’s shoes for the first two Tests, fatigue won’t be a concern either. KL Rahul is the next in line. He’s the most recent to lead India in Test cricket when Rohit Sharma hasn’t been available and has shown how reliable he’s been at number 5 in South Africa and against Bangladesh recently. Moreover, as a wicketkeeper and slip fielder, he has a great look at things.
Outside chance for Pant or Gill?
Rishabh Pant was destined to be India’s captain. The Indian management was grooming him so that he’d take over when Rohit Sharma eventually steps away from Test cricket. But that accident has stagnated his growth. We’ve seen how much he controls the game behind the wickets. Rohit often asks for his opinion, and he’s always involved in decisions when it comes to making field changes or plans when the game is drifting away from India’s grasp.
Shubman Gill was named India’s white-ball vice-captain in July. He’s been handed such a responsibility at just 25. Gill’s one of India’s best batters in ODIs and T20Is, but in Test cricket, he hasn’t been at that level. His form has improved immensely, and if he’s the management and selectors view him as India’s next all-format captain, he could be handed the job in Australia.
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