NEW DELHI: Who will captain India if Rohit Sharma gets injured ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh or during the match itself? According to convention, the team’s vice-captain would step in to lead in the absence of the regular skipper.
However, with no vice-captain named for the Bangladesh Test series, the question of who will take charge remains unanswered.
During the England series that occurred earlier this year, Jasprit Bumrah served as Rohit’s second-in-command.
India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar addressed the matter and clarified that the team does not require a designated vice-captain. He emphasized that the team already has numerous individuals who possess leadership qualities and have previously held captaincy roles at the highest level of the sport.
“I think we need to understand that we have got a lot of IPL captains in this team. When you talk about the likes of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, hopefully Yashasvi going forward. There are a lot of players who have led their franchises,” Nayar told the media on the eve of the 2nd Test in Kanpur.
“I wouldn’t look at them as youngsters any more. Yes, they are youngsters in terms of age and the amount of cricket they have played. But, I think overall, mentally and in their development as a cricketer, I think they have the leadership qualities that are required. You don’t need to have a vice-captain that should be designated,” he added.
About the team combination for the match, Nayar said that the nature of the pitch and overhead conditions on the morning of the match will influence the decision-making.
“To be honest, I don’t know which surface we are going to play on yet. Both the pitches look pretty good. Kanpur is often known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet,” Nayar said.
“With the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting, when we turn up in the morning, how the conditions are. A lot will depend on that because as you know in Test wicket, conditions can be a huge factor in how the pitch plays.
“It is too early for us to judge and decide or have any sort of thought process on the pitch or the conditions. But we are hoping we come in tomorrow to a sunny day and not an overcast Kanpur,” he said, adding that all the players are available, fit and ready to go.