With both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli walking away from Test cricket in the span of a week, Indian selectors face a tough dilemma. The captaincy needs to be passed and all eyes are on who will take charge of the red-ball squad ahead of the five-Test series in England starting June 20.
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Early reports have suggested that Shubman Gill could be the frontrunner to lead India in this transitional phase but not everyone is on board with the idea. Former India opener and ex-chief selector Kris Srikkanth has a different take and he is not mincing his words.
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Who is Kris Srikkanth's choice for India's new Test captain?
Speaking to The Times of India, Srikkanth openly questioned Gill’s credentials as a regular Test player, let alone a captain. Instead, he threw his weight behind Jasprit Bumrah -- India's vice-captain during the previous Test series.
“He (Gill) is not even a certainty in Test cricket. The captaincy should be given to Jasprit Bumrah, and if he is not fit or available for any match, then KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant should lead India,” said Srikkanth.
With Kohli’s retirement also leaving a void in the middle order, Srikkanth was clear on who should step up next. He named KL Rahul as his pick for the crucial No. 4 slot.
“Coming to the question about India’s next No. 4 in Test cricket, for me, KL Rahul should be given that position. He can be India’s lynchpin going forward in Test cricket. He has got the right technique, and the management should give him that fixed role,” he added.
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Srikkanth also paid tribute to Kohli’s Test legacy. He called his absence a “massive void.”
“Virat was the torchbearer of Test cricket. He played the game with passion and aggression... the selectors should have given him the captaincy, and he should have played for the next two to three years,” he concluded.