IND v NZ 2021: KL Rahul becoming vice-captain means selectors see him as future leader- Gavaskar

BCCI named Rohit Sharma as captain in T20Is and KL Rahul as vice-captain.

India batting great Sunil Gavaskar says that KL Rahul’s elevation as vice-captain of the Indian T20I side shows that he has been marked as a future leader by the BCCI selectors. 

BCCI on Tuesday (9th November) along with naming a 16-member squad for the T20I series against New Zealand, which will kick start from 17th November.

With Virat Kohli’s stint as a T20I skipper coming to an end following India’s early exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, BCCI named Rohit Sharma as his successor in the shortest format of the game. 

Read Also: BCCI announces 16-member squad for T20I series, Rohit Sharma named captain

With Rohit Sharma becoming captain, KL Rahul has been named as his deputy in the T20Is. The duo will take over the reins from the home series against New Zealand along with the new coach Rahul Dravid. 

Speaking to India Today, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that KL Rahul has been marked as a future leader by the selectors and him playing all three formats has been the main reason why he was elevated as the vice-captain. 

“KL Rahul has been marked as a future leader by the selectors. He has been the captain of Punjab Kings in the IPL and, above all, he plays in all 3 formats for India. I think Rahul playing in all three formats is the reason why he has been elevated to the role of vice-captain,” Sunil Gavaskar said. 

Gavaskar feels that Rohit Sharma is ready to carry the Indian Team forward. He, however, warned that leading a national team is a different cup of tea than state or franchise teams. The former captain added that Rohit's 5 IPL titles don't guarantee international success.

“Rohit Sharma is absolutely ready to carry the baton forward. It is a new beginning for Indian T20 cricket under the leadership of Rohit. Generally, a captain is only as good as his team. I know Rohit has won five IPL trophies under his captaincy, but leading a national team is completely different to leading your state team or franchise. 

“Just like a good first-class cricketer, he doesn’t necessarily turn out to be a great international cricketer. It goes to the captains also, no matter how many titles you have won for your state team or franchise, but it doesn’t guarantee success at the international level,” he said. 

Read Also: Babar backs Shastri’s views on bubble life; says players do get disturbed by staying constantly in bubble

Although Sunil Gavaskar said that will be too early to comment on the style difference between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy but he feels that there will be a different approach from the latter and can bring his own ideas into the play. 

“It is difficult to say at present. We can decide the difference in the captaincy only after a few games. But certainly, there will be a different approach from Rohit Sharma. He can now put his own ideas into the play,” he said. 

The India squad for the T20I series against New Zealand has seen some fresh faces in Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, and Harshal Patel along with IPL 2021’s leading run-getter Ruturaj Gaikwad while the likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja has been rested. 

(India Today inputs)