Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed his opinion that wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, known for his game-changing abilities in Test cricket, could potentially succeed Rohit Sharma as the next captain of the Indian Test team. While Pant has captained the Indian team in five T20 Internationals, he has also taken on the leadership role for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The selectors have recently announced a 16-member Indian squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa, with Rohit Sharma leading the team. Although Shubman Gill is included in the squad, Rishabh Pant was not considered due to ongoing recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Aakash Chopra Named Rohit Sharma’s Replacement As Test Captain
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra was questioned about his prediction for India’s next Test captain after Rohit Sharma. He shared his response (at the 7:00-minute mark):
“I am talking about extremely long-term, it could be Shubman Gill. I am not talking about now, I am talking about the distant future. It could be Rishabh Pant. Rishabh Pant as a Test cricketer is 24-carat gold.”
He added: “So he could also be the one. He is a game changer. So I will look towards one of these two once Rohit says he is done with Test cricket and that you can appoint someone else as the skipper.”
Aakash Chopra was also asked whether India can win their first-ever Test series in South Africa. Responding to this, he said:
“They can win but it’s not going to be easy because it’s just a two-match series. There are fewer chances of draws in a two-match series and we take time to read the conditions, although we will be fully prepared as we will reach there after playing quite a few friendly and India A games.”
He added:
“However, South Africa in South Africa is a different beast altogether. I feel India will do well but whether they will win – no idea, it won’t be easy. The series might end 1-1, we might win and could lose as well. I am not ruling out any result because it is South Africa.”
Watch the video:
India has never won a Test series in South Africa. The only instance of a drawn Test series in South Africa was in 2010-11 when India secured victory in the second game by 87 runs after losing the first, and the last match ended without yielding a result.
