Chankesh Rao | May 08, 2025, 05:06 PM IST
1.Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, already India's most successful Test captain with a winning legacy, could be considered as a viable option for interim management if the selectors prioritize experience and proven leadership. His passion for the red-ball format and aggressive mindset may be just what India requires to sustain its dominance in Test cricket.
2.Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah is considered the top fast bowler in Test cricket based on ICC rankings, but some doubt if he is the best choice to replace Rohit due to his captaincy record and injury history. Selectors may hesitate to rely on him long-term for Test cricket due to concerns about his ability to stay healthy and perform consistently.
3.Shubman Gill
Gill is considered a potential future Test captain, showcasing his tactical skills in the IPL. However, there are concerns about his readiness for the role due to recent failures with the bat and a lower average away from home. Comparisons are made to Rohit, suggesting Gill may need more time to reach the same level of consistency before being named as Test skipper.
4.KL Rahul
Rahul, like Bumrah, has captained India three times with two wins as Test skipper. He has a good record and has been a consistent performer for his country. With experience as IPL captain, Rahul could easily step up as Test captain.
5.Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer, though an unconventional choice for India's Test captain, has shown good leadership qualities while captaining in the IPL. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to victory last year and is currently performing well for Punjab under coach Ricky Ponting. However, he has not played Test cricket for over 15 months and is not a guaranteed selection for the Test team. Despite this, he could bring confidence if given the opportunity to captain India in Tests.
6.Rishabh Pant
A suggestion is to appoint Pant as the Test captain of India, given his strong leadership skills and experience. While Rohit Sharma was an attacking captain, Pant is likely to continue this style based on his aggressive batting and past success leading teams in T20 matches and the IPL. Despite a recent dip in form in the IPL, Pant has a solid Test record with a useful average of 42.11 and most of his centuries scored away from home.