KL Rahul to take over the position of vice-captain of the Indian squad against SA
South Africa -Indian opener KL Rahul has been named as the vice-captain for the Test team against South Africa. The decision was taken by the All-India Senior Selection committee after Rohit Sharma had to exit the squad due to hamstring injury for the upcoming three match Test series.
Sharma was the deputy of Test skipper Virat Kohli for the series but because of the injury, he was ruled from the squad. Rahul has his fair share of test experience having played 40 Tests so far and having scored 2321 runs at an average of 35.16. He was able to get himself six centuries, which on an average is a good number.
But the promotion of him from a batsman to batsman vice captain comes as he is now the player selectors are eyeing for a long-term potential leader in the coming days. He has captained an Indian Premier League team and was appreciated for his decision making on the ground so he may be the next leader India is looking for.
Earlier it was Ajinkya Rahane who was positioned as the vice-captain for the Test series but he was replaced by Sharma and now due to his injury, it is Rahul whose name popped in front of the selectors.
The selectors could not go back to Rahane as there is no certaining of him being a part of the playing XI and as of Rishabh Pant, it is still too early to give him the charge for a test team. Rahul on the other hand is being considered as someone who specializes in batting for all the formats. The BCCI officials feel that Rahul is at the right age and comes with enough experience to be shaped for the future with the Indian side where a Kohli or a Sharma is not there to take charge.