Who will lead Team India in Tests?

Virat Kohli’s sudden and shocking decision to quit as Test captain has left Team India management scratching their heads as they will now have to pick the batter’s successor.

Kohli was at the helm for seven years and as per the numbers, he steps down from Test captaincy as the most successful skipper in the longest format of the game for India and fourth overall. Under his time as captain, India played 68 Tests, winning 40, losing 17, and drawing 11 matches, with a win percentage of 58.82 while registering memorable wins in overseas and home conditions.

Only Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh have won more matches than Kohli as captain in Test cricket.

Hence, picking Kohli’s successor will be a difficult and tricky job for the Team India management.

However, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are being dubbed as the frontrunners for the role.

Notably, Rohit, who was named Team India’s ODI and T20I skipper last year, was the designated Test vice-captain for the tour of South Africa and most likely there won’t be any change to that hierarchy that BCCI has set in place. By natural progression, if all goes well and he is fit, Rohit Sharma will be leading India in Test match cricket with KL Rahul being his deputy.

Also, naming Rohit as the new Test captain might offer the team with much-needed stability after three resignations in the last four months. The home series against Sri Lanka can be the first assignment for the opener.

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