England’s visit to India will mark the beginning of a new cycle for Indian cricket. With Rohit Sharma’s retirement and the possibility of Virat Kohli following the suit, there is a strong possibility that a new captain will lead the soldiers in Headingly on 20 June. The selection of the team is still about a week away and the equations can also change with a couple of old hands, but Shubman Gill is likely to have a new leader. Toi takes a look at the candidates who will be in the field for top jobs.Shubman Gill:Professionals: Heavy favorite at this level. He is India’s ODI Vice-Captain and is brilliantly leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL this season. Decision manufacturers feel that Gill is a combination of quality and charisma — two things that are important to become captains. The corridors of power whispered that Gill has already told that he will lead the team in England, so that he can make his mental preparation.Shortcoming: The only concern about Gill is his distant test record. Outside the subcontinent, Gill’s average is 25.42 in 13 games — numbers that do not justify its talent. But then, after the England series, India plays most of its cricket at home for the next one year and Spin bowling supreme player Gill will get enough time to settle in his role.
Rishabh Pant,Professionals: It would have been a favorite before the Australia series, Pant would have been a favorite. But things were not very good for him in Australia and as the Lucknow Superbers captain in the IPL, the pants did not really get their rhythm. But no one can actually question the quality that the pants bring to the table as a test player, in more than 30 games, the test average of 37 more than 37 is the best. But for now, the selectors are likely to make him a vice-captain, which is a capable deputy in Gill.Shortcoming: Pant’s recent form and his equation with coach Gautam Gambhir. It is subject to Gambhir that Pant has lost his ODI and T20 locations and set a long way to lose the series in India during the Australia series. Wisely, the management was not happy with him, but no one doubted the explosive quality of India’s most successful wicketkeeper batsman.
KL Rahul:Professionals: He has captained India in the first trials and has been a good form with the bat. Rahul could easily be made an interim captain, a job that was done by Anil Kumble in 2007-08, before MS Dhoni handled all the formats. But these are different times and selectors may feel that Gill is 100% ready for the job. In that case, there will be no reason to create a 33 -year -old captain and look back.Shortcoming: Rahul, after a long struggle, feels that he has found his batting Mojo and the captain can simply put extra pressure on him. At a time when Indian cricket is going through a phase of infection, it is better to try to try the best of Rahul batsman.
Jasprit Bumrah,Professionals: No one is more entitled to it than Bumrah. During the Australia series, he was inspiring when he inspired India to win in Perth. Even in Sydney, when Baton was passed to him for the second time, he performed his best before breaking. Bumrah is definitely the best player in India, but it is his body which cannot always be towards him.Shortcoming: If Bumrah is made the captain for the England series, it will be almost given that he will not play five consecutive tests. He tried to do so in Australia and injured his back, something that Indian cricket cannot tolerate in the next few years. But Bumrah would definitely be slightly in the throat if he is not given the captaincy and will be on the gill to ensure that he does not have a spear.dark Horse: There were some sections of the selection committee which wanted Virat Kohli as captain for the England series. The idea at that level did not achieve much traction, but now when the legend wants to leave, will the BCCI try to make it a saddle with additional responsibility so that he makes him available for an important series? The possibility is very low, but strangers have happened in Indian cricket.
