The childhood coach of Virat Kohli, Rajkumar Sharma, has backed Rohit Sharma to lead the team to “newer heights” while admitting that the team has no one better suited to take over from Kohli in Test cricket than Rohit.
After Kohli was removed from ODI captaincy last November, a month after stepping down from the role in T20I cricket, BCCI named Rohit as the new white-ball captain and vice-captain of the Test team, replacing an out-of-form Rahane. Rohit has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Kohli now that he has relinquished his role in Test cricket as well after the 2-1 series loss in South Africa earlier this month.
Rajkumar, who spoke to India News about Kohli’s possible replacement as Test captain, endorsed Rohit.
“Rohit Sharma is the only contender since no other player has a guaranteed spot in all three formats. So he has shown excellent leadership in the IPL and whenever he has had a chance for the Indian team. I believe he will take the Indian team to higher heights,” he said.
The Indian team had been led by KL Rahul in the Johannesburg Test and the three-match ODI series in South Africa, while Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah are both inexperienced options.
He also weighed in on India’s team selection for the West Indies series at home, saying it will be easier to pick players if both head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit are on the same page, which he predicts will happen.
He added, “Every captain has a choice and every captain wishes to get the players he wants, and generally that happens as well. It becomes easy if Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid are on the same page, if the captain and coach want a certain team, then the selectors feel it is right to provide that team. I am convinced that that will also happen.”
Starting on February 6, India will take on West Indies in a limited-overs series consisting of three One-Day Internationals and as many Twenty20 Internationals.
