KL Rahul may captain India in T20I series against New Zealand: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to rest some senior players for India’s series against New Zealand, which will begin shortly after the T20 World Cup. KL Rahul is a strong contender for leading the team for the series.

The Indian cricket team’s performance in the ICC T20 World Cup has been nothing short of disappointing. But the players are unlikely to face all the blame, having lived in a bubble for a long period of time, most recently during the Indian Premier League.

While speaking to ANI, a source said highly rated Rahul’s chances of becoming the captain of the series were high. “The seniors would need a breather and it is no secret that Rahul is an integral part of the team’s T20 structure. He is almost certain to lead,” the source added.

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah also shed light upon fatigue playing a crucial role in India’s campaign following the loss to Kane Williamson’s side, which more or less ended India’s hopes of qualifying to the next round.  “Sometimes you need a break. You miss your family sometimes. You’ve been on the road for six months. So, all of that sometimes plays at the back of your mind. But when you’re on the field, you don’t think of all those things. You don’t control a lot of things, how the scheduling goes on or what tournament is played when,” he said.

Bumrah added, “So obviously staying in a bubble and staying away from your family for such a long period of time does play a role on the player’s mind as well. But they also tried their best to make us feel comfortable. But this is the time which we’re living in right now. It’s a difficult time. There’s a pandemic going on. So we try to adapt. But sometimes bubble fatigue, mental fatigue also creeps in, that you’re doing the same thing again and again and again. So it is the way it is, and you can’t control a lot of it here,”

Fans will also be returning to the stadium for the series with coronavirus protocols being enforced strictly. The stadiums will not be allowed to operate at full capacity and the restrictions are expected to vary depending upon the match venue.

India will welcome the Kiwis for a tour, which will consist of a T20 international series followed by two Test matches.