Rishabh Pant is the right guy to lead India in Tests in future, he is maturing with age: Yuvraj Singh
India Today
Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh backed Rishabh Pant to become the future India Test captain, saying the young wicketkeeper-batter has been maturing well in the recent past.
Even as the Indian Premier League is dominating headlines, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has opened up about potential captaincy candidates for the Indian Test team. Backing Rishabh Pant, Yuvraj said the wicketkeeper-batter could lead India well in the longest format of the game, while adding that he should be given time with the leadership group.
Virat Kohli stepped down as India's Test captain in an unforeseen way after India's loss to South Africa in a 3-match Test series. Rohit Sharma was appointed as his successor but it remains to be seen if the star opener, at 34, will be able to manage the rigiours of leading the team across all formats of the game.
Chief selector Chetan Sharma had stressed during Rohit's appointment that it was not a short-term appointment but Yuvraj Singh believes Rishabh Pant needs to be groomed into the role and it's the right time to make him the deputy. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah was named the vice-captain for the 2-match Test series against Sri Lanka before the IPL.
Speaking to Sports 18, Yuvraj Singh highlighted that someone like MS Dhoni was thrown into deep water and it might be the right time to give Pant the responsibility.
"You must get someone ready. Like Mahi became captain out of nowhere but they made him, right! Then he evolved. Keeper is always a good thinker because he always has the best view on the ground," Yuvraj said.
"You pick a young guy who can be a future captain, give him time and don't expect miracles in the first six months or a year. I feel you must believe in the younger guys to get the job done," he added.
Pant was not a certainty in the Indian Test team despite a solid start to his career in whites. However, it all changed after replacing Wriddhiman Saha in the XI following the infamous Adelaide Test in which India were bundled out for 36.
