Rohit named Test captain as Pujara, Rahane dropped

Rohit Sharma. (Illustration by Reynold/Gulf Times)

Rohit Sharma was yesterday named India’s Test captain, one of the highest-pressure jobs in world sport, completing his takeover of the leadership across cricket formats after Virat Kohli’s exit. The 34-year-old will lead the side in the upcoming two Test series against Sri Lanka starting March 4, chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma said. “Rohit Sharma is the number one cricketer of our country,” he said. “King Kohli” quit as India’s Test captain in January having resigned from the T20 leadership last year and then been sacked as ODI skipper. Rohit, known as the “Hitman” for his big hundreds and six-hitting, this month led the team to a one-day series sweep over the West Indies. He has led IPL side Mumbai Indians to a record five titles, and had already taken over the white-ball captaincy following Kohli’s surprise departure. Always a frontrunner to take over the Test duties, Rohit has been a regular member of the Test team since opening the batting for India in October 2019, when he hit twin centuries. The swashbuckling batsman, a white-ball star, has scored 3,047 runs including eight centuries in 43 Tests since making his debut in 2013. His attacking batting and penchant for big scores – he scored 177 on his Test debut and has a top score of 212 – make him a favourite with the fans. Critics though highlight Rohit’s injury-prone career and the fact that he is 18 months older than Kohli, meaning he may prove to be a stopgap skipper before someone younger – such as Rishabh Pant – takes over. His ample physique also contrasts with lean fitness fanatic Kohli, but selection chairman Chetan dismissed concerns about the new captain. Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was named as Rohit’s Test deputy, putting him in contention to become the next skipper. Meanwhile senior batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were dropped from India’s Test team for the upcoming Sri Lanka series yesterday. Both Pujara and Rahane have struggled with the bat and were told to get back to India’s premier domestic red-ball competition – the Ranji Trophy tournament – to regain lost form. Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha and veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma also got the axe. Bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returns to the team alongside his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been picked subject to getting fit ahead of the Test. The second Test, which will be a day-night game, will be played in Bangalore starting March 12. Former captain Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will be rested for the final T20 against the West Indies and the T20 series against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday. Test squad - Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), K.S. Bharath, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt) T20I squad - Rohit Sharma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, R. Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Avesh Khan