Virat
Kohli on Saturday brought the curtain on captaincy controversy, stepping down
from India Test captaincy. Kohli gave up the T20I captaincy in November after the T20
World Cup in the UAE and then the BCCI, in a surprising decision, removed Kohli
from the ODI captaincy and named 34-year-old Rohit Sharma India’s white-ball
captain. Rohit had also replaced Ajinkya Rahane as Kohli’s deputy in Test
cricket.

Also Read: Virat Kohli steps down as India Test captain

Now
as Kohli has freed himself from the burden of captaincy, Chetan Sharma-led
senior selection committee will have to find out India’s next Test skipper. India’s next Test series is scheduled in February-March. So, selectors have little time to sit back and think about India’s next captain.

Considering
the recent development, it is likely that either KL Rahul or Rohit Sharma, who
was given the vice-captaincy role in Tests, will be appointed India’s full-time
Test captain.

Also Read: WTC points table: Where do India stand after series defeat against South Africa?

Rahul
has recently led India in the Johannesburg Test which India lost by seven
wickets. This was 29-year-old Rahul’s first Test as a skipper. Rahul, who will now
be leading India in the three-match ODI series against South Africa in injured Rohit’s absence, starting
January 19, will get another chance to strengthen his bid for the role in the longest format of the game.

In
Rohit Sharma, India, of course, have a superb captain. The right-handed batter
led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles. On several occasions, MI won because of
his uncanny ability to bring twists in the game. Rohit is known as a cool and calm captain. He got the T20I and ODI
captaincy majorly due to his success with the Mumbai Indians. But given his age, he
can be India’s stop-gap captain, not a long-term option for the role. 

Also Read: 3rd Test: South Africa beat India by 7 wickets on Day-4, wins 3-match series 2-1

Will selectors opt for a young face? 

If
selectors are bold enough, they may look up to someone like Rishabh Pant or Jasprit
Bumrah or consider the safe option of going back to Ajinkya Rahane, who won four Tests leading in six. Both Pant and Bumrah are young and currently in their early 20s. Pant has been
criticised for his poor shot selections but he loves to take responsibility and singlehandedly won many Tests for India. In IPL, with Delhi Capitals, he soaked
the pressure of captaincy pretty well.

Also Read: ‘Dropping catches won’t help’: Cheteshwar Pujara slammed by internet

Will India choose a bowler as a captain?

Bumrah,
who has been named Rahul’s deputy for the ODI series against South Africa, has
been a consistent performer for India in Tests.
Since Kapil Dev retired, India never named any pace bowler captain. When Kapil
Dev was named captain, he was pretty young and won India the World Cup in
England in 1983 and retired as one of the world’s greatest all-rounders.
Bumrah doesn’t have Kapil Dev’s batting prowess. But he is a brilliant fast bowler and is a great reader of the game. He applies his mind while bowling and unsettle
batters with sheer pace and skills.

Also Read: Watch | Kohli, Ashwin vent on stump mic after DRS overturns Elgar LBW

Australia
has recently opted for Pat Cummins to lead the side in Tests; India can also take a
similar step.

Calling someone would make a good or bad captain is an inconvenient task, as captaincy is about “90 % luck and 10 % skills” said, Richie Benaud, former Australia captain and renowned commentator.