The Indian Cricket Board announced the squad for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after Rohit Sharma and his team took a 2-0 lead on Sunday. However, while KL Rahul was in the squad, he was not mentioned to be the vice-captain.
India captain Rohit Sharma will now select the vice-captain for the two remaining Test matches against Australia in Indore and Ahmedabad. This means Rahul is no longer Rohit’s deputy. Rahul was named vice-captain when the squad for the first two Test matches was announced in December. However, it has been revealed that the selectors have decided to release the opener from leadership duties.
“It was decided not to name any vice-captain. Instead, the power was given to Rohit Sharma. Who will lead the side in case he has to leave the field is Rohit Sharma’s call,” a source told The Indian Express.
Senior members of the selection committee flew from Kolkata, where they were watching the Ranji Trophy final, to Delhi to select the team for the third and fourth Test matches. Following the resignation of Chetan Sharma as chairman of selectors after the sting operation, the meeting was presided over by former India opener SS Das.
The form of the opener has been a talking point, with 23-year-old Shubman Gill waiting in the wings. According to his post-match comments, Rahul has the support of head coach Rahul Dravid. “I think he needs to trust his processes. This is just a phase, he has been one of our most successful overseas openers. He’s got hundreds in South Africa and England, we’ll continue to back him,” Dravid said.
India’s squad for the 3rd & 4th Test vs Australia
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, S Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, R Jadeja, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat
Here is how Twitter reacted to KL Rahul
KL ko bahar krne ki ichcha lag rahi hai lagta hai,KL needs to correct his mistakes and make a comeback after playing some good cricket.?
— Gaurav Verma (@VermagGaurav) February 19, 2023
During press conference, captain & coach giving full support & backing to KL Rahul
And now this.
Double standard.
Our Full support to #GOAT Rahul against this injustice.
— Piyush (@chhu_man_tar) February 19, 2023
Are bhai mention ki kya jarurat hai, vo main hi hu ? pic.twitter.com/mJQUTrye47
— Manoj Pareek (@mrpareekji) February 19, 2023
@BCCI , @RogerBinnyBCCI sir, @JayShah sir should make Rishabh Pant the Vice Captain in Tests once he returns considering it a long term investment. Groom him during the 2023-25 WTC Cycle. Post 2025 he can take over.
Until he returns, make Ravichandran Ashwin the VC in Tests.
— Advaitya Chandhoke (@AdvaityaC) February 19, 2023
Imo Shreyas should be now made VC of indian team. If that injury had not happened, then he might have been made vc
— P R A T I K. (@pratik_1609) February 19, 2023
Ash anna for VC pls
— $@?@ (@monkeyshowcrazy) February 19, 2023
Now hope to see Rohit and Gill opening.
We were quick to axe Shaw in BGT 2020-21 after his bad performance, Mayank also went out of contention after injury and some bad performance. Same should apply to Rahul.
Venkatesh Prasad Zindabad ??— Rohan Mali (@ro21_9) February 19, 2023
He will play the next test match if he is fit. Management will find a way to keep him in the playing 11.
— Bineet Mishra (@bineetmishra) February 19, 2023
Meanwhile the Vice captain of the Indian team in Tests #INDvsAUS #BGT2023 pic.twitter.com/5fNJuF35vm
— ? (@SarcasticCowboy) February 19, 2023
