NEW DELHI: Angered by the recent spate of lacklustre performances by Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, many fans on the streets are raising a chorus for the duo’s retirement even as BCCI has announced the squad for the Battle Down Under.
The New Indian sized up the mood and sentiments of people on the streets of the national capital, a day after India lost to New Zealand in the Pune test as well as the series – the first such defeat since 2012 at home.
In a recent survey conducted by The New Indian, the public has expressed strong support for Suryakumar Yadav as the next captain of the Indian cricket team after Rohit Sharma. The current T20I captain received a majority of the votes, highlighting his popularity among fans. Suryakumar, who made his Test debut against Australia in February 2023, scored 8 runs in that match, leaving him with limited Test experience.
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Speaking to The New Indian, cricket lover Mohammad Umair said, ‘Rohit is my favourite, and I don’t think he should retire yet. However, if he does retire in the future, Suryakumar Yadav could be the next captain.”
It seems that the team administration is not considering Suryakumar for the Test leadership, despite the public’s tremendous support for him. He is not now in the plans for the Test squad, despite having just been named the full-time captain of the T20I team. On the other hand, supporters see him as a cool-headed leader who might succeed in the position if given room.
Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed vice-captain of the Indian squad as they get ready for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. Bumrah might have to take over as team captain since Rohit Sharma is probably going to miss the start of the series for personal reasons. He has experience leading India as captain, having done so while Rohit was injured during the most recent Test match against England.
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Another cricket watcher from Delhi, Mohhamad Shakib Says, “After Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav should be an ideal candidate for captaincy in future.”
Players like Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill have also drawn interest from certain supporters for the captaincy position, although these choices don’t appear very likely to happen anytime soon. The main attention is still on Suryakumar Yadav, who is regarded as a new leadership candidate despite having no Test cricket experience.
A daily follower of cricket, Gatik Ali says, “Suryakumar Yadav should be the next captain of the Indian Test team as well. Rishabh Pant could also be given a chance, as he has always wanted to become like former Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. Besides, he is a skilled player.”
The selection of the team’s captain will be crucial in determining the team’s future as the Indian cricket scene changes. As the public continues to support Suryakumar Yadav as a possible long-term leader, the focus is currently on Bumrah, who might soon assume control of a crucial series.