Are the walls on Rohit Sharma as Test captain closing in? Probably. Is the BCCI looking for a replacement of Rohit Sharma as India’s Test skipper following the loss in the WTC Final 2023 to Australia and given Rohit’s age and fitness issues? Could be.
Will India go back to Virat Kohli to lead the Test team again? Possibly.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India selectors are currently surrounded with plenty of questions regarding India’s Test captaincy which have escalated because of India’s embarrassing 209-run loss in the WTC Final.
This was Rohit Sharma’s first SENA assignment as the Test captain and it’s fair to say he faltered in it with his selection calls, bowling changes and tactics, and field placements, especially in Australia’s first innings.
It has even been reported by PTI that the board may continue with Rohit Sharma as Test skipper for July’s West Indies tour but a sacking could be imminent after that.
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and selectors are bereft of choices to replace Rohit Sharma.
KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant, three players who have held captaincy and vice-captaincy post in the past couple of years for India all are currently injured.
Ajinkya Rahane has just made his comeback to the Test team and will need to cement his position by showing consistency with the bat before being touted as captaincy replacement, even though under Rahane, India has not lost a single match of the 6 Tests that he’s captained in. Plus, Rahane is over the age of 35 already.
This brings the selectors to one man who has held the Test captaincy position with distinction and great success overseas: Virat Kohli.
Fans and some experts suggested India missed the energy of Kohli in the WTC Final, and some have recommended India go back to appoint Virat as their Test captain.
Even if Board of Control for Cricket in India asks Virat Kohli to retake the captaincy, would the Delhi-born agree to that? That remains contentious given the strife-filled circumstances he had with the board last year at the time of resigning as the Test skipper in January 2022.
