Rahul is the right man to replace Rohit

Bengaluru: With Rohit Sharma stepping away from Test cricket, Indian cricket finds itself grappling with the task of finding a suitable replacement. His retirement has not only created a void at the top of the batting order but also left a leadership vacuum with their next assignment -- the five-Test series in England -- just over a month away. 

While there are options galore, each one of them has its own set of complications. K L Rahul, in all likelihood, will return to the opening slot, but the more pressing debate revolves around who should inherit the captaincy in the longest format. 

At the forefront of this discussion is Jasprit Bumrah. As India’s Test vice-captain and its most potent bowling weapon, Bumrah seems a natural successor. His on-field tactics as witnessed against Australia as a stand-in skipper, quiet aggression, calm temperament and respect within the change room make him an irresistible choice. However, his role as an all-format fast bowler demands careful workload management. Appointing him as full-time Test captain could risk overburdening a player whose fitness is crucial to India’s success across formats. 

Shubman Gill presents a future-ready alternative. Still in his mid 20s, Gill is India’s ODI vice-captain and has been groomed as an all-format cricketer. If one were to plan with a long-term vision, Gill ticks several boxes: he is young, is groomed as a future leader and has consistent presence across at least two formats. However, giving the captaincy to someone still finding his feet in Tests -- except his debut series in Australia in 2020-21, Gill has struggled abroad -- could backfire. India wouldn’t want to rush him into a high-pressure role prematurely.

Another name floating around is that of Rishabh Pant. As a Test batsman, Pant has a proven track record, particularly in overseas conditions. His leadership credentials, though, remain untested in red-ball cricket, he seems to get hot under the collar under pressure as has been witnessed on a few occasions during his assignment with Lucknow Super Giants in this edition of IPL.

Amid these considerations, Rahul emerges as an unlikely but a more viable candidate. Though not a young option at 33, Rahul brings a wealth of experience and composure to the table. His captaincy record in Tests, though limited, is respectable having led India in three Tests and winning two. With an assured spot in the playing XI and a calm working style, Rahul could be the ideal bridge between India’s present and its future. It’s worth noting that Rohit took over the captaincy at 35 and went on to lead with distinction.

Rahul’s appointment would also allow the team to groom a younger leader, most likely Gill, under his wing -- striking a nice balance between present requirement and succession plan. 

There is always the tempting but unlikely idea of reinstating Virat Kohli on a stop-gap basis, particularly given the magnitude of the upcoming Test series. But while Kohli’s credentials as a leader are unquestionable in the longest format, such a move might appear regressive, undermining the forward-looking vision Indian cricket needs right now.

Bumrah might deserve the honour, but his fitness remains too vital to compromise. Gill will definitely be on the radar in time to come. Rahul, therefore, emerges as the most balanced choice.

With Rahul returning to the top, a middle-order place (No. 5 or 6) also opens up. Here again, India have an embarrassment of riches with Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair staking their claim. Nair could be an intriguing and bold choice given his domestic form across formats. It’s a credit to him that he has made himself part of the conversation after a seemingly lost cause. 

Though an opener, India could also try Sai Sudharsan, who has proven he is one for the future. He also presents a left-hand batter’s option in the middle-order.