Mumbai: Virat Kohli on Saturday announced his decision to step down as Test captain, shocking the Indian cricket fraternity. The 33-year-old made the announcement merely a day after he led the side in the three-Test series against South Africa. Kohli ended his captaincy stint as India’s most successful skipper in the longest format of the game.
Following the announcement, speculation has been going on over Kohli’s successor in the leadership role. Many have rooted for Rohit Sharma, who has already been named India’s limited-overs captain as India’s next Test skipper. The legendary Sunil Gavaskar has suggested Rishabh Pant’s name as Kohli’s successor.
“It’s going to be quite a debate as far as the selection committee is concerned as to who should be taking Indian cricket forward. First of all, it should be someone who is an automatic pick across all formats of the game. Once that happens, it will be a lot easier,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying to India Today.
The young wicket-keeper batter did a decent job for the Delhi Capitals in his first stint as captain in IPL 2021 and took the team to the playoffs. The 24-year-old has received a lot of praise from all over and already and is seen as a captain in making.
“If you ask me, I am still staying, I would look at Rishabh Pant as next India captain. For one reason only, just like Rohit Sharma was given the captaincy of Mumbai Indians when Ricky Ponting stepped down, look at the change in his batting after that. Suddenly the responsibility of being captain made him convert those beautiful cameos of 30s, 40s and 50s into hundreds, 150s and 200s. I think that sense of responsibility given to Rishabh Pant will help him score many more of that wonderful hundred he scored at Newlands,” Gavaskar added.
Gavaskar went on to give another example of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi who took up the captaincy for India at the young age of 21 and it paid dividends as well. He is quite convinced that Pant had the credentials to take Indian cricket forward and make it count.
“Yes, I am saying that. Tiger Pataudi was captain at the age of 21 under adverse circumstances when Nari Contractor was injured. Look what he did after that. He took to captaincy like duck to water. I think what we have seen with Rishabh Pant as the captain of Delhi Capitals in the IPL, I do believe he has the capability of taking Indian cricket forward and making it a very exciting team to watch,” the 72 year old concluded.
Former World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh as well, feels the same. Backing Gavaskar he stated that he thinks Pant could do well to fill Virat Kohli’s shoes. “Absolutely! Reads the game well behind the stumps,” wrote Yuvraj on Twitter, in reply to Gavaskar’s opinion.
Absolutely! Reads the game well behind the stumps
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) January 15, 2022
KL Rahul will now lead the team in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, which begins from January 19. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will be the vice-captain.
