Team India are currently in Bangladesh as they went there to play a three-match ODI and a two-match Test series. However, on 10 December 2022, the ODI series got finished. The Banga tigers managed to defeat the Men in Blue by 2-1 in the series. Meanwhile, during the second ODI, India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma got injured and missed the last ODI. However, after the second ODI, Rahul Dravid confirmed that Rohit Sharma will miss the last ODI and his participation in the upcoming Test series as per the medical instructions. After that several reports were there that Abhimanyu Easwaran might replace Rohit Sharma.
So, on 11 December 2022, the Indian Cricket Board shared the update through an official statement on Twitter. The statement reads: “India captain Rohit Sharma met with a specialist in Mumbai for his left thumb injury, which he sustained during the 2nd ODI against Bangladesh. He has been advised of appropriate management for this injury and will not be available for the first Test against Bangladesh. The BCCI Medical Team will take a call on his availability for the second and final Test at a later stage. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Abhimanyu Easwaran as his replacement for the first Test.”
Fans were not happy to see KL Rahul as the skipper for the first Test against Bangladesh
The statement further reads: “Fast bowler Mohd. Shami and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja are yet to fully recover from their respective shoulder and knee injuries and are ruled out of the Test series. The selectors have named Navdeep Saini and Saurabh Kumar as replacements for Shami and Jadeja respectively. The selection committee has also added fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat to India’s squad for the Test series.”
India’s updated squad for Bangladesh Tests: KL Rahul (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, and Jaydev Unadkat.
Meanwhile, after the announcement, fans were not happy to see KL Rahul as the skipper. This series is vital for them in order to keep their hopes alive for the World Test Championship’s final. KL Rahul made his debut as a Test captain on 3 January 2022. It was the second Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg. Virat Kohli had a back issue and hence, he got the opportunity to lead. But, India lost that match and eventually, the Proteas won the last match also to win the series by 2-1.
Here is how fans have slammed the Indian Cricket Board for making KL Rahul the skipper for the first Test:
Yaar kl Rahul me aaplog ko kya dikhta h jo captain or vice captain bnate rahte ho….????
— SAURABH (@atulsaurabh145) December 11, 2022
BCCI son in law is back in the leadership chair.. What a joke this Indian selection has become.. Shame !!
— Naveen (@_naveenish) December 11, 2022
@klrahul is so pathetic batter and yet India continue to rely on him. He's more of a liability. Kick him out of India's squads altogether and find someone worth a spot.
— United Unlisted (@UnitedUnlisted) December 11, 2022
KL never deserve any chance but how he became a captain?
— Dr. Pallab (@DrPallab28) December 11, 2022
Jaydev pic.twitter.com/pzq8FiQrON
— Omkar Rane (@OmkarRa77667686) December 11, 2022
KL must be having private videos of top officials….
— Last Bencher (@lastbencher070) December 11, 2022
Why KL Rahul as captain why not Virat ??
— venugopal (@ven025) December 11, 2022
Sabko lelo bhaieee sabko lelo…Indian cricket team nai priyadarshan ki movie Ka climax he. Sare players ko playtime milega.
— Puneet (@Puneetgulati) December 11, 2022