The BCCI on Saturday named Rohit Sharma as India’s full-time captain for Tests. The star opener will replace Virat Kohli as Test captain in the series vs Sri Lanka. The BCCI also announced India’s squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced that Rohit Sharma will take over from Virat Kohli as the captain of India’s Test team as well. Rohit was appointed as a full-time T20I and ODI skipper.
The two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning on 1 March, is supposed to be Rohit’s first assignment as the full-time Test captain. He has become a vital member of the Test side for the last couple of years and has become a mainstay at the top of the order as well.
Rohit’s credentials as a skipper are second to none in white-ball cricket. Rohit was appointed as the vice-captain of the Test team in December 2021 after Ajnkya Rahane was sacked as captain due to poor form last year. However, Rohit was not able to travel to South Africa due to a hamstring injury.
“The selection committee thought a lot before making the decision. We spoke to them earlier. We told them we will not consider them for 2 Test matches for Sri Lanka. We told them the doors are absolutely open for them. In just 2 Test matches, selectors decided to give chances to other cricketers. They are playing Ranji Trophy,” Chetan Sharma said,
Questions are being asked of Rohit’s fitness as the star opener had missed several high-profile series in the recent past due to injury concerns. With a T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup coming in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Rohit needs to be at his fittest best to lead the team in white-ball formats.
The BCCI also announced India’s squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been excluded from the Test side as India announced their squads for the Test and T20I series against Sri Lanka.
The two veterans have struggled in the longest format over the past couple of years leading to their exclusion from the longest format. Ravichandran Ashwin has been included in the side but his availability for the series will be subject to fitness.
Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill also return to the squad after being passed fit while there is also a call-up for left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar. KL Rahul will also be unavailable due to concerns surrounding his fitness.
India’s Test squad for SL series: Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, Ashwin (fitness), Ravi Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep, Bumrah (VC), Shami, Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Sourabh Kumar.
