A year back, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the team and looked far from making a return to the Indian test side. After getting axed from the team ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka last year, Ajinkya spent his time playing domestic cricket before making a terrific comeback in IPL 2023 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
Riding on his stellar performance in IPL 2023, Rahane made a comeback in the Indian test team and he then emerged as India’s highest run-getter, scoring a valiant 89 in the first innings. All thanks to his terrific comeback he was rewarded with the vice-captaincy role once again for the upcoming tour of West Indies.
For the unversed, Rahane was removed from the vice-captaincy position in December 2023 ahead of the tour of South Africa, and Rohit Sharma was made the new vice-captain. Therefore, when Kohli stepped down from the Test Captaincy, Rohit was made the new captain but ever since then, the Indian cricket team didn’t have a fixed vice-captain. A year and a half later, the Indian cricket team is still experimenting with the vice-captaincy role.
Sunil Gavaskar Named 3 Youngsters Who Can Replace Rohit Sharma To Be The Next Test Captain
This experiment has been criticized by many, including the former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. Disappointed at the BCCI selectors, Gavaskar felt that the move was a failed opportunity to providing a youngster with the opportunity to groom and grow into the leadership role. He said:
“There is nothing wrong in having him [Ajinkya Rahane] as the vice-captain, but a missed opportunity to groom a young player. At least, tell a young player that we are looking at you as a future captain. So, he starts to think as a future leader,”
Further, Gavaskar also suggested three names, who can be the next Test captain after Rohit Sharma. He said:
“One is Shubman Gill and the other is Axar Patel [as future captains] because Axar comes in leaps and bounds, he just gets better every match. Giving him the responsibility as vice-captain will make them think. So, these are the two candidates in my view,” Gavaskar said. “If there are others, somebody like Ishan Kishan, once he cements his place in the team. He can come in the reckoning as well.”
