India ODI vice-captain – KL Rahul to be Rohit Sharma’s deputy – After Rohit Sharma was promoted to ODI captaincy role, KL Rahul is all set to be the new vice-captain of the India ODI & T20 Squads: As always keep our readers ahead on developments in Indian cricket, InsideSport once again is the 1st platform to report, that Rahul will be named as captain of both ODI & T20 teams: Follow LIVE Updates on Cricket with InsideSport.IN
While the Karnataka star was named as the vice-captain in the T20I series against New Zealand, it will be made permanent from the South Africa tour. An announcement will be made during the ODI squad selection later this month.
“KL (Rahul) will be the next vice-captain. It was an obvious choice in white-ball formats. He has done excellently over the last few years. He has 6-7 years left in him and can be groomed to become the next captain. With Rohit and Virat around besides Dravid, he will learn a lot,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
India ODI vice-captain: BCCI official to InsideSport, ‘KL Rahul will be named Rohit Sharma’s deputy in ODI and T20I’
The All-India Senior Selection Committee also decided to name Mr Rohit Sharma as the Captain of the ODI & T20I teams going forward.#TeamIndia | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/hcg92sPtCa
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2021
On Wednesday, Virat Kohli was forced out as the ODI skipper after he stepped down as the T20I captain after the T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma will be the captain in white-ball formats from South Africa series onwards. But as he is 34, it is unlikely that he will continue beyond the 2024 T20 World Cup. That is the reason, KL Rahul was proposed as the new vice-captain.
India ODI vice-captain: Why KL Rahul is the perfect choice as the vice-captain?
- After the England tour, KL Rahul has become all-format batsman.
- No one has a better average in ODIs than KL Rahul in Indian cricket. The former Punjab Kings skipper has averaged 61.92 in the last 24 months in ODIs, better than anybody in the team.
- He was already appointed vice-captain for the T20I series against New Zealand.
- KL Rahul shares a great rapport with all the seniors including Kohli, Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid.
- Rishabh Pant’s name was discussed but considering he is too young, KL emerged as the strongest candidate.
India ODI vice-captain: BCCI official to InsideSport, ‘KL Rahul will be named Rohit Sharma’s deputy in ODI and T20I’
Also Read: India squad for SA: Lifeline for Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma, Hanuma Vihari returns
InsideSport has leant that a section of the selection committee and the BCCI wanted Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain as he is still 24 and has captaincy experience in IPL and domestic cricket with Delhi. Apart from that, as a wicketkeeper, captains need to take inputs during taking reviews (DRS).
But with KL Rahul in red-hot form and as he is an irreplaceable member of the white-ball team, he has been given the responsibility. Furthermore, he shares a great rapport with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both besides other members of the team.
India ODI vice-captain: BCCI official to InsideSport, ‘KL Rahul will be named Rohit Sharma’s deputy in ODI and T20I’
“Rishabh is very young and at this stage, giving him extra responsibility could become a burden for him. With the seniors around, he will learn a lot. Personally, I don’t think it would have been the right call to hand over the responsibility as the vice-captain will have to lead at some point when seniors like Rohit are rested,” the BCCI official told InsideSport.
Furthermore, even in seniors’ absence, KL Rahul will have all the backing from head coach Rahul Dravid. KL had idolized Dravid growing up through Karnataka ranks and has had experience training under him. But it is unlikely that BCCI will make an official announcement like it was the case for Rohit Sharma.
India ODI vice-captain: BCCI official to InsideSport, ‘KL Rahul will be named Rohit Sharma’s deputy in ODI and T20I’
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