Former India coach Ravi Shastri has given his bold and brutal take on KL Rahul’s form in recent times and said that he is against the idea of picking a vice-captain in a home series as he feels it complicates the selection of the best XI if the deputy is not in form.
Shastri also hinted that Shubman Gill should replace KL Rahul in the remaining two Tests of the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
KL Rahul was recently removed as vice-captain of the Indian team after the BCCI announced the squads for the upcoming two Tests against Australia and the subsequent three-ODI series. This was after his scores of 22, 23, 10, 2, 20, 17, and 1 in his last seven innings.
Ravi Shastri gave his take on having a vice-captain in the home series and whether Shubman Gill should replace KL Rahul in the India XI for the next two Tests.
“The team management knows his (Rahul's) form, they know his mental state. They know how they should be watching someone like Gill. I always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India. I would rather go with by best XI, and if the captain has to leave the field, you'd zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don't need to create complication,” Shastri said on the ICC Review podcast.
While Rahul lost his vice-captaincy, he managed to retain his place in the India squad, despite making 38 runs in three innings in the ongoing Test series. He also hinted that it’s time to bring in Shubman Gill who has been in great form lately.
"If the vice-captain doesn't perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I'm being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home conditions. Overseas, it's different. Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Gill, who's red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he's not the vice-captain, it has to be team management's decision," said Shastri.
Shastri said that a player needed to be consistent in his performances as there are many other talented players waiting in the wings for their chances.
"They will have to see form, his state of mind. He's a tremendous player, but talent is only so much. You have to convert that into results and be consistent. There's so much talent in India who is knocking the door. It's not just Rahul, there are many in the middle-order and bowling lineup as well, there is a lot of dept.” Shastri said a break can do a world of good for a player who is struggling with form.
Sometimes a break for the player in those conditions is far better because he can go away work on his game and come back stronger. In my tenure, Pujara was dropped- came back with hundreds, KL Rahul was dropped, and came back strongly. You can't carry T20 form into Test cricket,” Shastri added.
The third Test between India and Australia will be played in Indore from March 1 and the fourth and final Test will be played in Ahmedabad from March 9.
(PTI inputs)
