Virat Kohli is no stranger to the role of captain. He has captained several teams since he was in youth teams. In 2008, he was the captain of the Indian Under-19 squad that won the World Cup. Furthermore, he was seen as a future captain from the time he successfully moved to the senior squad. Kohli was given his first shot at the helm in 2013, but it wasn’t until January 2015 that he became the full-time Test captain. The Delhi boy was chosen captain across all formats a few years later (in 2017).
Kohli has been a fantastic player throughout the years, but his leadership abilities have been lacking. After losing to New Zealand in the World Test Championship final, Virat Kohli suffered his third defeat as India captain in ICC tournament knockouts and finals. Before this match, India had lost in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals under Kohli.
That defeat came two years after India was defeated in the 2017 Champions Trophy final by Pakistan, who was also captained by Kohli. Under Kohli’s leadership, India has only played three ICC knockout matches. India’s next appearance in an ICC competition will be in the T20 World Cup 2021, which will be hosted in India.
Rohit Sharma
One excellent option for the leadership is Rohit Sharma, who has been one of the best leaders in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians. Sharma is a knowledgeable leader with a keen analytical mind who is renowned for his foresight and planning. After Kohli, Rohit becomes an obvious candidate for leadership, since he is one of the most successful captains in the Indian Premier League, and his white-ball record is as excellent as anybody in the world, both with the bat and as a team leader.
Rohit is a lot like MS Dhoni, unlike Kohli. He is collected and quiet, and he goes about his business without saying anything. He isn’t a fan of verbal duels like Virat Kohli, which might assist him in the shortest format. In 2018, Rohit Sharma led India to victory in both the Nidahas Trophy and the Asia Cup. In both of these tournaments, Rohit Sharma was spot on, and he was able to lead the squad from the front. Rohit had led from the front as a batsman who had been instrumental in his team’s victories on several occasions. In limited-overs cricket, Rohit Sharma has been outstanding.
Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane has been a key member of the Test squad for years, a dedicated and well-liked player who rose through the ranks to become a senior statesman in his late twenties. He’s a quiet tactician who avoids verbal sparring and mental warfare on the field, preferring to project a calm demeanor, quite the polar opposite of India’s full-time skipper. Given Virat Kohli’s full-time duties, Rahane’s leadership stints have been confined to one-off occasions. The odds were stacked against India on their recent visit to Australia.
Virat Kohli was on paternity leave at the time. Nonetheless, India triumphed. India defeated Australia in their stronghold of Gabba, thanks to the young talent of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. India has won back-to-back series in Australia, and this time it was thanks to Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy. Ajinkya Rahane’s steel and tenacity are demonstrated by the fact that won when India was up against the odds and against an opponent like Australia.
Split Captaincy
Teams like Australia and England have employed the concept of ‘Split Captaincy’ for years. England’s test and one-day captains are Joe Root and Eoin Morgan, respectively. This has helped them to alleviate some of the pressure that one specific player has placed on them. India will definitely gain from adopting a similar method. Kohli would certainly benefit from being relieved of leadership responsibilities in a specific format, as it would help him cope with the mental pressure he is now under. As a result, the duration of his international career will be prolonged.
