Aakash Chopra, a former opener and current cricket broadcaster, believes that aggressive Rishabh Pant has managed to edge KL Rahul out of the running to be the next Test skipper. There have been concerns voiced over Rohit Sharma’s future as captain after India deployed a number of leaders in different formats over the previous seven months to manage player stress. Rohit may give up the Test leadership in the future to focus on white-ball forms, according to expectations. The 34-year-old is regarded as one of the best captains in limited-overs cricket and has led his team to the most IPL championships (5) in the competition’s history.
Chopra discussed the leadership qualities exhibited by the youthful IPL captains Rahul, Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Sanju Samson.
“There are three other captains. I will talk about KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, I can talk about Sanju Samson as well. Rishabh Pant may just actually pip Rahul to the post in Test cricket but don’t forget Rahul is a class player across the three formats. But you have not understood the clear DNA of their captaincy.” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra highlighted Pant’s combative leadership approach and drew attention to how he utilised his spinners while leading Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.
He added, “Rishabh Pant, for example, seems to be an aggressive captain in terms of the way he uses the bowlers. But at times an over is left in the end, like Kuldeep picked up four wickets but didn’t bowl his four overs. I mean that also has happened very often, or a spinner is bowling the 20th over. So it is a developing story. He is learning of course, getting better, there is no doubt about that, but that DNA hasn’t developed thus far. You can say the same thing about Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Sanju Samson as well.”
He praised Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, for using his bowling resources more effectively than others in the previous season, when they came in second.
“They are captaining their franchises but they are all work in progress. I think Sanju Samson is managing the bowling resources a little better. He had a very good bowling attack as well.”
