Rohit Sharma’s recent Champions Trophy triumph has yet again cemented his image, and it would not come as a shock if he captains the Indian team to England for the forthcoming Test series that begins on June 20. But the selectors have not yet finalized his captaincy. Sources indicate that there is no one-point consensus about Rohit Sharma being the default choice to captain the Test team.
Who’ll Be The Next Captain After Rohit Sharma?
The big worry is Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness, which makes the leadership situation complicated, particularly with no one apparent from the new generation of Indian players. Rohit was already under huge pressure going into the Champions Trophy, especially following India’s 1-3 series defeat in Australia, which also brought his own form woes to the fore. But India’s successful tour of the UAE has given him some much-needed respite. The question of interest now is whether the selection panel will take his ODI success into account while making choices for leadership in the tougher Test format, where his recent performances have been dismal.
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“Rohit Never Said He Doesn’t Want To Play Tests”
“Technically, Rohit remains the Test captain. He voluntarily benched himself from the last Test in Sydney where he explained that a team can’t carry on with multiple out of form batters.
“After Australia Tests, India haven’t played any Tests and hence there has been no change in Test captaincy. Also Rohit never said he doesn’t want to play Tests,” a BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Selection Committee Likely To Take A Decision After IPL
India had six disappointing losses in the last World Test Championship cycle, and the new cycle starts with the England series, beginning at Leeds. But the final call on the Test squad and captaincy is still on the cards.
“The selection committee gets a break during IPL. Obviously with all matches televised, they always don’t need to travel unless they have some specific strategy or they want to watch a particular player from up close,” the source added.
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“So once IPL starts, the blueprint for England series will be drawn at some point. But (coach) Gautam Gambhir’s view point will have a lot of weightage,” he added.
Gautam Gambhir’s Viewpoint Will Carry A Lot Of Weightage
Head coach Gautam Gambhir is also renowned for giving importance to recent form rather than earlier credentials, and his opinions might play a role in the selection. It will be interesting to see if Rohit gets the nod of the team management. Gambhir, an ardent believer in a “team-first” approach, has always insisted on creating a solid core for the Test side over the next couple of years.
For any conclusion to be made about Rohit’s captaincy, it will call for concordance between chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gambhir, so their interaction will be a determining factor behind India’s leadership in the Tests.
