Rohit Sharma said on Wednesday that he is happy to help train potential successors following his recent appointment as India’s all-format cricket captain in place of Virat Kohli. The star batsman was named Test captain on Saturday – he was already a white ball skipper – but as he turns 35 in April, experts don’t expect his tenure to be long. The Indian cricket board has identified three potential candidates, all in their 20s to eventually follow suit: Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. “I don’t have such a big role to tell them anything and everything, of course they are all adult cricketers, but there has to be someone around them to help and guide them in difficult situations and (I am) more than happy to do that,” Rohit said at his first press conference after taking over the test track.
“We’ve been looked after by someone else, so it’s a natural process. When you talk about Bumrah, KL, Pant, they play a huge role in India’s success, while also being considered leaders at the same time.”
India’s spearhead Bumrah, 28, has been named vice-captain from Thursday in the upcoming series of three T20s and two Tests at home in Sri Lanka.
KL Rahul, 29, who captained the ODI team in South Africa in January, was unavailable due to injury.
Pant, 24-year-old, a wicketkeeper batsman who leads Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals, has also been earmarked as a future captain by pundits, including striking great Sunil Gavaskar.
“Again, we don’t want to pressure these guys,” Rohit said. “They are very critical of us and right now we just want them to enjoy their game, come out freely and perform (their) skills.”
“Brilliant brain”
Speaking of Bumrah’s elevation to the post of deputy in T20 and Tests, Rohit said the role would only add to his promise as a deadly fast bowler – taking 113 Test wickets since his 2018 debut.
“It doesn’t really matter if it’s a batter or a bowler as a vice captain, it’s the spirit that matters from that person. And I think Jasprit Bumrah has a great spirit of the game,” Rohit said.
promoted
“It’s a good way to step into the leadership role now. It’s clear he’s taken his game to the next level and I’m sure he will continue to do so. But this will only give him more confidence in what whatever. he wants to do it on the field.”
Bumrah was first named vice captain in the ODI series in South Africa earlier this year.
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