OPINION
Follow UsNo one saw that coming. In what has turned out to be a step-by-step progression, Virat Kohli has now stepped down as India’s skipper in the longest format. While there was an obvious choice to replace him as captain in the white-ball format, the same is not the case in Test cricket. It is the biggest void that Kohl’s resignation has left. That is what makes his decision more curious.
Moving ahead, the BCCI is now tasked to pick a new Test captain. There are a few options but none of them presents their candidature quite clearly. Considering that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are not in the picture owing to their indifferent form, we analyze the pros and cons of every candidate for Test captaincy.
Rohit Sharma
Being the vice-captain, it would be natural for Rohit Sharma to succeed Kohli in Test cricket. After a brilliant 2021 in Test cricket, he has established himself in the format, proving his worth in a variety of conditions. When available, he will be an automatic choice to constitute the XI. There is no lack of experience as well. He has a lot of success as a skipper, however, in IPL. Rohit should be an obvious choice to lead the side.
But the equation is not as straightforward. The only rationale behind Kohli’s decision accentuates India’s schedule which doesn’t have a Test match outside the sub-continent until 2024. Kohli may have deemed this as the right point to quit for his successor to gain precious captaincy experience in home-like conditions. Rohit's appointment will fail that motive as he is a year older than Kohli.
Moreover, it will put the load of all-format captaincy on him, asking him to appear in every match for India, as well as Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He is not the fittest of cricketers going around. Hence, Rohit’s appointment to fill Kohli’s shoes will be a near-sighted decision.
R Ashwin
If you think that Ashwin will make a good Test captain, we don’t blame you. He is one of the most thinking cricketers in the modern-day era. His time as an IPL captain for the Punjab franchise didn’t produce desired results but Test cricket is his bread-and-butter format. He holds the experience of playing 84 Tests. For home games, he will be one of the first few names on the team sheet.
The same cannot be said about overseas fixtures. Ashwin was benched throughout the England series in 2021. In South Africa, he played all the three Tests because Ravindra Jadeja was not available. He managed only three wickets in six innings. The pitches were inconducive for spin bowling but Ashwin didn’t help his case for Jadeja’s return. Overseas Tests have been a big obstacle in Ashwin’s legacy and now remain to be another barrier for his Test captaincy candidature. But if India are looking at the current cycle? Who knows!
KL Rahul
KL Rahul emerges as another efficient choice to lead the Test side. 29 years old, he can lead the side till the end of the next overseas cycle. Like Ashwin, he has led the Punjab franchise in IPL, although without any success. He stepped in as Test skipper in Johannesburg where Kohli was not available for selection. For the time being, Rahul has done well to establish himself as a Test opener, alongside Rohit.
But the trick with Rahul lies in the recent history. While his captaincy resume isn’t encouraging, he was not in India’s plans only six months ago. In fact, he was the third choice opener as Mayank Agarwal was the default name to open in the first Test against England after an injury to Shubman Gill. When Mayank was injured in the net session, the doors opened for Rahul and he grasped the opportunity. A couple of ordinary series as captain will put his spot in jeopardy again given the number of options India possess.
Jasprit Bumrah
Pat Cummins’ appointment as Australia’s Test skipper has highlighted the prospects of fast bowlers leading their team. Bumrah’s demeanor as a pacer - both calm and hostile - puts him under the spotlight as a potential leader. Like Rahul, he has the age on his side. He can lead from the front with his performance, as he has done many times as the leader of India’s pace attack.
READ: ‘Would be an honour if given the opportunity’: Jasprit Bumrah on Test leadership
But one would also have to look at the difference between Cummins and Bumrah. For one, Cummins is fitter than Bumrah and hasn’t missed a fixture due to injury in a long time. In a bigger distinction, Australia can rest Cummins from white-ball fixtures to ensure he is available to play every Test. It’s not the case with Bumrah. He has a bigger ceiling in white-ball cricket than Cummins. Hence, he is rested a lot more in home Tests. Consequently, Bumrah has played only two Tests at home as compared to 25 away since his debut in 2018. Managing his workload will become trickier if he is assigned the Test captaincy.
Rishabh Pant
The most left-field choice for the Test captaincy would be Rishabh Pant. A young and happening cricketer, Pant is earmarked for greater things in Indian cricket. Whether home or away, he will play a lot of Test cricket for India in the upcoming future. He has captaincy experience with Delhi’s first-class team and Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
There is the precedent of Greame Smith’s success with South Africa that may tempt selectors to consider Pant. With a lot of home Tests coming up, he will have the bandwidth to gain captaincy experience with help from seniors around him.
At the same time, he might be undercooked for Test captaincy right now. He scored a magnificent hundred in Cape Town but it won’t be sensible to ignore his dismissal in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test. It only highlighted he has a lot to learn in order to crack Test cricket.
Author’s choice
At this moment, you wish Hanuma Vihari had played more Tests for India. He is 28. He has shown a good head on his shoulders whenever given a chance. He has led Andhra enough in domestic cricket. His two innings in the Johannesburg Test exhibited that he will play for long when presented with consistent opportunities. That should happen soon assuming India will move on from Pujara and Rahane.
Very few players fulfill all the yardsticks like Vihari, except being undroppable. Currently, he has only 13 Tests. Probably, another drawback of sticking with Pujara and Rahane for so long. For now, Rahul has the most improbable drawbacks to lead the side.
