Former Australia pacer Brett Lee has eyed a number of candidates to be Virat Kohli’s successor as India’s new Test captain. However, he refrained from naming them.
Earlier in the month, Kohli shocked the world with his unforeseen resignation as the Test skipper, and now is no longer the captain in any format having relinquished the T20I captaincy followed by removal as the ODI skipper last year.
Brett Lee is currently in Oman where he’s plying his trade for the World Giants team in the ongoing Legends League Cricket. While speaking with ANI, the former Australian speedster was asked about his opinions on who should lead India in Tests going forward.
Brett Lee said that there are “four-five” contenders for the job in the Indian team. However, he didn’t take anyone’s name, explaining that since he had been busy for the past few months in the broadcaster’s role, he hasn’t got the time to make a strong evaluation of the Indian players.
“It is totally Virat Kohli‘s call. I have been focused on the Big Bash League back home and obviously, the Ashes. I cannot say much about it, it is totally up to Virat Kohli. I think there are four-five players who can lead India in Tests right only, only time will tell,” Brett Lee told ANI.
“It is totally up to the Indian management, there are four-five players who can do the job,” he added.
Rohit Sharma, who was named the Test vice-captain replacing Ajinkya Rahane but missed the South Africa tour due to injury, is the natural successor to Kohli. However, being a three-format captain could be a lot demanding for Sharma, who has had frequent fitness issues in the past, and is currently recovering from a hamstring injury.
Other names in contention are KL Rahul, who captained India in the Johannesburg Test and the ODI series, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, who is touted as a future captain and has led the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. The other left-field choice is spearhead pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was the vice-captain in the ODI series.
Fast bowlers can prove to be as good a captain as anyone else. Pat Cummins proved this during the recently-concluded home Ashes, where Australia hammered England by 4-0.
When asked about Pat Cummins‘ captaincy, Brett Lee lauded the pacer for a job well done.
“Pat Cummins has done very well as a captain, he has proved that fast-bowlers can be captain. I am very happy for him,” Brett Lee said.
