Team India have already conceded a 2-0 lead to South Africa in the three-ODI series.
Wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels that it will take some time for the “transition” phase to settle in Team India.
After a disappointing Test series defeat against South Africa, India lost the ODI series as well with one match to go. The KL Rahul-led side suffered a 31-run loss in the first game and they were at the receiving end of seven-wicket loss in the second ODI.
The ongoing ODI series against South Africa is the first since Virat Kohli was sacked as the skipper of the 50-over format. Rohit Sharma was expected to lead the side but his injury ruled him out and the leadership role was given to KL Rahul.
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Rahul’s stint as the Indian captain didn’t start well as he first lost the second Test against South Africa and then lost both the ODIs. Following his poor start, he has found himself under the firing line for the team’s poor outing especially after the standards set by Virat Kohli as skipper.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik said that Virat Kohli will find a balance between infusing his energy into the team and taking a backseat for Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to run it in their way.
“When it comes to energy, Virat is second to none. And I think he will infuse that. (But) Sometimes, he would like to think if team needs to be run the way a KL or a Rohit wants, he will take a backseat. He can't throw the ball and say ‘come on guys!’. He will feel awkward because he wouldn't want to step on Rahul's shoes,” Dinesh Karthik said.
Karthik said that it will take Virat Kohli some time for this transition as it’s a very weird phase. He while explaining the same cited his own example when he stepped down as Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper mid-way in IPL 2020.
“It will take some time for him for this little bit of a transition. It's a very weird phase, I've gone through it as well when I was the captain of KKR, and when you come back for the next game I wasn't the captain. So it's a very tricky phase.. (it's tough) what you want to say to the players and what you don't want to… You want the current captain to lead the ship the way he wants to,” he said.
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Dinesh Karthik said that transition will happen automatically as there are grown-up individuals in Team India, who can take decisions on their own. He added that Virat Kohli has had his say in the last 5-6 years but now he has moved on, thinking the next captain will also do the same.
“It will happen automatically. There are all pretty grown-up individuals who can take decisions on their own. He wouldn't want to be on the players' face, or giving advice which he feels would not be taken at this point.
“He has led the team for 5-6 years rather well, he has had his say, and now he's moved on hoping the next captain would be able to do what he wants to do his way,” he said.
South Africa and India will now face each other in dead rubber third ODI in Cape Town on Sunday (23rd January).
(Cricbuzz inputs)