Former Australia captain Steve Smith has swiftly suggested that Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are the front runners for the vacant Test captaincy post after Virat Kohli relinquished his captaincy. The 1-2 loss against hosts South Africa proved to be the final straw for Kohli, who left his role just 24 hours after Team India were dismantled in the Cape Town Test. Smith, 32, has now given his opinion on the vacant post and has expected either Rohit or Rahul to be the successor.
"Firstly, congratulations to Virat, who has led the Indian team superbly over the last 6-7 years. He has done a terrific job and looking forward, I would say Rohit and KL are the two favourites,” Smith answered in an Instagram chat.
Both Rohit and Rahul have been consistent performers for the Indian team in the last few years. The latter was even in charge of the Indian team in the Johannesburg Test, in which Kohli was ruled out due to upper back spasm. India, though finished on the wrong side of the result as Dean Elgar inspired the Proteas to a record run chase.
“It has been seven years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I’ve done the job with absolute honest and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it’s now,” Kohli wrote after he relinquished his Test captaincy.
Meanwhile, Steve Smith also took over as captain of Australia in the recently concluded Ashes series which the hosts won by 4-0. Smith captained Australia for the first time since the sandpapergate in South Africa as Pat Cummins was one of the close contacts of Covid-19 affected person and had to isolate.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now been tasked to name the next captain but has asserted a 'wait and watch' role. The board still has time to decide on who to hand over the task as the 'Men in Blue' will be involved in a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series against West Indies. India's next Test series will be against Sri Lanka in the home conditions in March.
