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Virat Kohli's decision to relinquish Test captaincy on Saturday (January 15) has not only shocked everyone but has also raised an urgency to fill the void for the leader role in the longest format.
Rohit Sharma or KL Rahul - who could be the perfect fit for the coveted post? The answer is still up in the air.
But BCCI sources have somewhat dropped a hint which could give a clarity on the conundrum that looms large.
"Rohit is the front runner to be the next Test captain but selectors could have a fresh discussion on it given KL Rahul being the other name for the captainship role," a BCCI source told Sports Tak.
As per the process, a designated vice captain would become the next captain but selectors could debate all formats captaincy being a burden for one individual and go for a separate captain in Tests cricket.
Kohli had earlier relinquished his T20I captaincy, at the end of the T20 World Cup in October-November, citing workload. In an Instagram post, however, he had expressed his desire to continue as India’s Test and ODI captain.
“Understanding workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload over the last 8-9 years playing all 3 formats and captaining regularly for last 5-6 years, I feel I need to give myself space to be fully ready to lead the Indian team in Test and ODI cricket,” he posted on September 16.
The selectors, however, were averse to having separate captains in white-ball cricket. Accordingly, they appointed Rohit as ODI skipper on top of his T20I leadership. Kohli was retained as the Test captain.
According to Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI had requested Kohli not to relinquish his T20I captaincy. “We (BCCI) had requested Virat not to step down as T20I captain,” Ganguly had said.
During the pre-departure press conference on Wednesday (December 15), ahead of India’s tour of South Africa, Kohli contradicted that, saying nobody had communicated with him in that regard which sparked a multi-dimensional debate.
“I was never told not to give up T20I captaincy. There was no prior communication to me at all since I announced the T20I captaincy decision until the 8th of December, where I got a call before the selection meeting. The chief selector (Chetan Sharma) discussed with me the Test team, to which we both agreed. And before ending the call, I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, ‘okay, fine’. In the selection call afterwards, we chatted about it briefly. That’s what happened. There was no communication prior to that at all,” Kohli had said.
This was not it. Later, chairman of the selection committee of the Indian cricket team Chetan Sharma refuted Virat's allegations that he was not asked to take back his resignation from T20 captain. While addressing a press conference held in the evening on Friday 31st December 2022, Sharma had said that Virat Kohli was asked to continue as T20 captain for the sake of Indian cricket. Sharma also reconfirmed that he had personally called Virat Kohli and told that the selection committee was of the opinion to keep the same captain for white-ball cricket.
It was like someone opened the Pandora Box of Indian cricket. A lot has happened in a span of five months for the 33-year-old.
Virat stepped down as Royal Challengers Bangalore after the IPL 2021. Then quit T20 captaincy which was followed by his axe from ODI lead role. And now finally his decision to step down from the Test captaincy. All this in mere five months, which says a lot about the mental shape Virat must have been through all this while.
In the 68 matches that Virat Kohli captained, India won 40, lost 17 and drew 11. Out of the 40 victories, 24 were at home and 16 were away wins. India did not lose any Test series at home under the captaincy of Kohli. India won all 11 series at home. India have only lost two tests at home under the 33-year-old batter.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma who is yet to captain India in the longest format of the game, will be seen as the final frontier for the coveted post given the volume of experience he brings in with him and the success he has tasted while captaining in the other formats. On the other hand KL Rahul who started off with a loss while leading the India side in Tests, is also seen as the next option for the captainship role.
