IND vs AUS Indore Test: Border Gavaskar Trophy – After losing vice-captaincy, KL Rahul is set to face the axe in Indore. While the selectors took the leadership burden off him, his poor form is set to force Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid to look at Shubman Gill. Despite being in excellent form, Gill has only warmed the bench with KL Rahul managing just 20, 17 and 1 in the three innings he has played. The India Cricket Team is currently on a break and will reassemble on February 25 in Indore. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Amid widespread criticism surrounding his form, the Shiv Sundar Das-led selection committee removed KL Rahul from vice-captaincy on Sunday, hours after he was dismissed for 1. While Rahul has complete backing from Dravid and Rohit, at least on camera, it’s not that settling inside the dressing room.
“The idea was to help him as much as we could. His position in the team is questionable and precarious. Yes, Rahul has done well in the past in overseas Test but he is not at the same level as some who are fighting for a spot in the team. But there should not be much tinkering with the squad that is winning. That is why he was given a chance to remain in the squad,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
IND vs AUS Indore Test: Sacked as vice-captain, KL Rahul set to be AXED from Border Gavaskar Trophy 3rd Test, Shubman Gill set to partner Rohit Sharma, Follow LIVE Updates
Hence, with no vice-captaincy immunity, Rahul will be dropped for the 3rd Test in Indore unless there is any last-minute injury concerns to Shubman Gill. If everything goes as per plan, Rohit Sharma will open with Shubman in Indore.
KL Rahul in last 12 months:
- In his last 10 innings, Rahul has failed to cross even the 30-run mark, scoring 8, 12, 10, 22, 23, 10, 2, 20, 17, 1.
- He has only managed 20, 17 & 1 in this series.
- In the last 12 months, he has managed an average of 13.57.
- Even R Ashwin (37.00) and Mohammad Shami (21.80) have a better average than the opener.
Who will be India’s next Test vice-captain? – With Rahul gone, Rohit Sharma has been given the power to choose his deputy for the last two Tests against Australia. Once Jasprit Bumrah comes in, he will be the vice-captain in WTC Final. But before that, Rohit will pick his own.
“It has just been a day and there are still 10 days left for the 3rd Test. Rohit will pick the vice-captain after discussing with Rohit Sharma and his teammates. For now, there is no designated vice-captain. Rohit should inform before the match starts,” the BCCI official told InsideSport.
- The idea was to groom Rahul to take up Test captaincy when Rohit retires from Test.
- Now, there is a change in plan.
- With Rishabh Pant injured and out for 7-8 months and Jasprit Bumrah yet to recover, Rohit will have to name his deputy.
- Virat Kohli isn’t in the running as he does not want to hold an official leadership position.
- Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have all been deputised before.
- Pujara was Rohit’s vice-captain in Bangladesh.
- Jadeja was Shikhar Dhawan’s deputy in KL Rahul’s absence on the WestIndies tour.
- But Ashwin is yet to get the title. While many including Dinesh Karthik have backed him to be the official vice-captain, it is yet to happen.
IND vs AUS Indore Test: Sacked as vice-captain, KL Rahul set to be AXED from Border Gavaskar Trophy 3rd Test, Shubman Gill set to partner Rohit Sharma, Follow LIVE Updates
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