India eyes next Test skipper as Virat Kohli time closes
White-ball captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are top picks to assume control over the high-pressure work.
After Virat Kohli's abrupt abdication the spotlight went to his probable replacement as India Test commander on Sunday, with white-ball captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul top picks to assume control over the high-pressure work.
Kohli, 33, stunned the cricket-insane country on Saturday by venturing down after the group's 2-1 series misfortune in South Africa.
The whiz batsman leaves as India's best Test pioneer, with 40 successes and 17 misfortunes in 68 Tests as chief.
"Right now Rohit and Rahul are the main two names that ring a bell" to succeed him, a senior authority of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told AFP on state of namelessness.
"We should sit and talk about to think of Kohli's replacement. Rohit is as of now the white-ball chief, so how about we see."
Rohit, 34, assumed control over the Twenty20 occupation from Kohli following India's World Cup exit, and later supplanted him as skipper in the 50-over design too.
KL Rahul drove India in the second South Africa Test after Kohli missed the match because of injury.
The 29-year-old Rahul will likewise be named chief for the impending three one-day matches in South Africa after Rohit, who has had wellness issues, neglected to recuperate from a physical issue.
Different names in conflict incorporate Rishabh Pant, who scored an unbeaten 100 - though for a losing cause - in the third Test in Cape Town.
Previous skipper Sunil Gavaskar told TV channel India Today the wicketkeeper-batsman ought to be thought of.
"Tiger Pataudi was commander at 21 years old under unfriendly conditions yet look what he did.
Gasp "has the ability of taking Indian cricket forward and making it an exceptionally astonishing group to watch," he added.
Recognitions pour in
Kohli's Test group gave the country a few remarkable recollections, including their very first series win in Australia in 2019 and a since a long time ago run as the world's highest level group.
However, a world title stayed slippery for the chief in spite of making the finals of the debut Test title, which they lost to New Zealand.
Accolades poured in for the world's driving batsman, who is relied upon to play his 100th Test against Sri Lanka at home one month from now.
"Congratulations @imVkohli in what you and your group has accomplished under your administration and thank you for supporting Test cricket so enthusiastically," Australia's Shane Warne composed on Twitter.
West Indies incredible Viv Richards likewise praised Kohli's "dazzling run" in charge. "Without a doubt, your name will be up there among the best forerunners in world cricket," he composed.
BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly said Kohli would "keep on being a vital part" of the India group. "Under his initiative, the Indian cricket crew has taken fast steps in all organizations of the game," he added.
"Each beneficial thing reaches a conclusion and this has been a generally excellent one."