Who can replace Virat Kohli as India’s Test captain?list of possible candidates

As Virat Kohli left the field as India Test captain, proud record Under his leadership, all eyes are on the BCCI and the national selection panel led by Chetan Sharma to pick the right man to carry on his legacy and make India a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. the power of.

As India is approaching a transition phase, with few underperforming businesses likely to be wiped out and some long-standing warhorses nearing the end, it becomes even more important for Sharma & co to identify the right person to replace Kohli.

With the next overseas tour cycle and the World Test Championship (WTC) trophy noteworthy crown less than two years from now, selectors will have a headache over how to replace Kohli at the helm. Whether they should take a futuristic call or make a short-term plug will be a major consideration.

With all things in mind, here is a list of potential captain candidates for the pickers and the Indian Council to look at.

Also read – Virat Kohli pleads for ‘little help’ from Indian players before stepping down as captain

Five potential Test captain replacements for Virat Kohli

1. Rohit Sharma

The first name to be considered to replace Kohli is Rohit, whose stature in Indian cricket in all its forms has only improved over the past year. Appointed as the new white captain, Rohit has undergone a major transformation as a Test cricketer.Last year, he was one of India’s heroes in the Test match, playing a main character Away victories Australia and England, home to three Lions.

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Rohit was named vice-captain of the just-concluded Test series against South Africa but was unable to play due to a hamstring injury. Fitness and injuries may be the only negative factors holding back Rohit’s Test captain’s ascent right now. The 34-year-old is well into his 30s and has a heavy workload due to his full-format duties.

2. Rahul, Kuala Lumpur

Rahul is more of a long-term captain candidate to replace Virat Kohli than Rohit. Rahul’s Test bat career also had a notable revival. After a period of struggle from 2018 to the end of 2019, Rahul was brought back into the XI squad for the 2021 Tour of England.Taking advantage of his opportunity, he became India’s second tallest runner A member of the series and then a 100% victory in Centurion’s Boxing Day Test.

From England to South Africa, Rahul’s status in the Indian camp has continued to rise. He was named vice-captain of the ODI and T20I and led India for the first time in the Test in Johannesburg in the absence of Rohit and Kohli. Rahul is only 29 years old, and recent signs of a resurgence in his Test batting will only further justify his case as a potential replacement for Kohli.

3. Ravi Chandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin, hailed as one of the brightest minds in the game, could also be the candidate to replace Kohli at the helm. The veteran off-hand is one of the standouts in the modern game, with 430 Test wickets in 24.38 in 84 runs and 2,844 runs in 26.83. Ashwin also previously captained the IPL.

Ashwin doesn’t have the most A productive trip to South Africa But that doesn’t diminish his status and value in the system. For the past three years, the 35-year-old has been one of the best all-condition test spinners in the world.

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The only hurdles to Ashwin’s Test captain appointment are his age and India’s tendency to attack with a four-pronged pace when playing abroad. Ashwin remains the number one spinning mill in India. But he’s no longer the team’s all-around No. 1. At this stage, the label is firmly grasped by Ravindra Jadeja.

When Jadeja showed up, India played him at the 6 and used him as a defensive spin option to rotate their four receivers, including Shardul Thakur at the 8. But when he was injured, Ashwin was not an ideal batting replacement at this stage of his career, as seen in the tough series against South Africa.

4. Jasprit Bumrah

Don’t let his second-inning struggle in South Africa’s last two Tests fool our judgement. Jasplit Bangla Still arguably one of the best fast bowlers in the world, if not the best, he possesses a range of skills that help him succeed in a variety of conditions.

Bumrah has taken 113 wickets from his 27 Tests at 22.85 since his debut in January 2018. His track record and performance over the years has quickly and easily established Bumrah as one of India’s best cricketers in the world’s top ranks.

The 28-year-old has also been seen as leadership material in the organisation, which was reflected in his appointment as vice-captain of the ODI series in South Africa.

The unorthodox right-arm pacemaker may also be considered for a test captaincy. But there are two main problems: one is tactical, and the other is physical. The two are interrelated. If India do appoint Bumrah as their next Test captain, they will have to scrap his policy of skipping home Tests and playing him every game, increasing the likelihood of injury.

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Only two of Bumrah’s 27 Tests have been in India, and the presence of Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami and now Mohammed Siraj has allowed India to rest their top car and keep him fresh on the overseas tour. If India part ways with this tactical strategy, they will have to field Bumrah at home and away, which will increase his workload and his chances of injury.

As well documented, Bumrah’s unorthodox behavior has taken a huge toll on his upper body. The last thing India wants is for him to collapse ahead of a major series overseas.

5. Rishabh Pants

The Test captain’s left-field option could be Pant, the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper batsman, whose tiebreaker in Cape Town ended the South African series with 100 per cent. Pant has a rare set of hundreds of goalkeeper threes in England, Australia and South Africa, with an impressive average of 39.43 after 28 Tests.

The 24-year-old, with his age at his side, could be seen as a Test captain option in the great MS Dhoni model, who was also considered a left-field pick when he took over in 2008. Pant has some experience as a captain due to his work with Derry Capitals (DC) in the IPL.

However, given Pant’s propensity to discuss his high-stakes approach, divided opinion, it’s possible the selectors will back down this path. In the decisive second inning of the Joburg Test, Pant was heavily criticised for showing a lack of game awareness when he danced on the track and hit a hockey ball to press the ball against Kagiso Rabada. Pant came in and faced just two balls, while Rabada was completing a challenging spell for the seventh time in a row.

Before his memorable century in Cape Town, Pant’s return to England and South Africa had been sluggish, showing a lack of confidence in his defensive play. At a time when the youngster needs more comfort as a batsman and is still developing as a goalkeeper, will the selectors take on his captaincy duties in the toughest form?