Team India's Test and ODI squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies was unveiled last Friday (June 23), with the selectors making major changes especially in the longest format.
While Cheteshwar Pujara was left out of the Test team, Ajinkya Rahane was named the vice-captain after his successful comeback to the side earlier this month in the WTC final against Australia.
The 16-member squad also included some fresh faces like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mukesh Kumar.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, former wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim weighed in on India’s squad and questioned the appointment of Rahane as vice-captain.
Karim feels India should have picked 'irreplaceable' Ravindra Jadeja or young Shubman Gill as Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the Test series against West Indies.
"I don't know why people don't even talk about Ravindra Jadeja. He's a regular in all formats for the Indian side when he has had major contributions in India's test success also. So how come he's never spoken about as a leader? He's irreplaceable in all three formats for the national side and he's equally capable of leading the national side. Or if not him then maybe Shubman Gill if the Indian selectors thought that he is the future. I am just saying, there are some candidates," Saba Karim stated.
“When you're looking at transition, when you pick youngsters like Yashavi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, then why would you make Ajinkya Rahane the vice-captain. What is the logic behind it? He made a comeback after being dropped from the Test side. He played one Test match. He did well, that is perfectly fine. But if you're looking for the future, if you want to build a side, if you want to groom a cricketer, then why would you go back to Ajinkya Rahane? I mean, with due respect to him and his capabilities as a leader, we need to look at grooming a youngster who could have taken over from Rohit Sharma in times to come,” he added.
India will play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is on the tour of West Indies. The tour will get underway with the Test series on July 12 and will run until August 13.
