Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on India’s future Test captain after 1-3 series loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Chopra feels Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal could be among the front runners to take over the captaincy role.
According to reports, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has hinted that he will continue playing Test cricket for some time more. Jasprit Bumrah could be a top contender to take over the captaincy baton but his appointment is under scrutiny because of injury and workload management.
On the other hand, Gill was recently made vice-captain but he was dropped from the MCG Test against Australia. Rishabh Pant is also one of the contender but he was recently slammed for his impulsive shot selection.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant – which of the two can become the captain? It’s a beautiful question because, as per sources, Rohit has said that he will manage the team for a few months, but after that, you (the BCCI) can find whoever you want, and since there could be an injury issue with Bumrah, it’s your wish,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator added it is crucial for India to groom the next captain in the red-ball version of the game.
“I had a solution that we should see after six months. If Jasprit Bumrah captains the entire England tour, appoint a vice-captain properly because you have to groom him. Let’s be very honest, when we won the T20 World Cup, it seemed like the grooming process was going very well,” he observed.
“Everything looked fine. Shubman Gill was being made the vice-captain. He was regularly being assigned that role and then suddenly Shubman Gill was dropped. So pressure was put on him as to what was happening as he is potentially not coming in the captaincy thoughts and is not coming in the T20 format at all,” Chopra elaborated.
“Then you wonder whether Rishabh Pant could be the captain. They had started thinking about Rishabh Pant but then, of course, that accident happened. Then he comes back and he is thought about, but then the reports came amid BGT that this approach won’t work, it’s enough. So forget Rishabh Pant as a captain, he is a player who cannot be depended upon,” he said.
Chopra feels the Indian selectors should let Yashasvi Jaiswal bat freely and not give him the leadership onus yet.
“Then it came out that Yashasvi Jaiswal might be a horse in the vice-captaincy race. I am saying – is it not too early? Long term, maybe yes, Yashasvi Jaiswal might be India’s captain five years from now, and I will be happy for him, a wonderful kid, but it is too early. Let the kid play. Let him mature properly. There is no thumb rule that he cannot be made the captain but it will be too early,” Chopra elaborated.
India will next take on England in three-match ODI series and five T20Is.
