The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced that Rohit Sharma will be succeeding Virat Kohli as the captain of the Indian Test squad as well. Rohit was appointed as a full-time T20I and ODI skipper last year. The BCCI also announced India’s squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
The two-match Test series at home against Sri Lanka, scheduled to be commencing on 1 March, is supposed to be Rohit’s first assignment as the full-time captain in Test cricket. He has become a vital member of the Test side for the last couple of years and has become a mainstay at the top of the order as well.
🚨 JUST IN: India have named their new permanent Test captain.
Details 👇https://t.co/lgLdDROGyE
— ICC (@ICC) February 19, 2022
Rohit’s credentials as a skipper are second to none in limited-over cricket. Rohit was appointed as the vice-captain of the Test team in December 2021 after Ajnkya Rahane was sacked as deputy skipper due to poor form last year. However, Rohit was not able to travel to South Africa due to a hamstring injury.
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Describing the same, chief selector, Chetan Sharma said, “The selection committee thought a lot before making the decision. We spoke to them earlier. We told them we will not consider them for 2 Test matches for Sri Lanka. We told them the doors are absolutely open for them. In just 2 Test matches, selectors decided to give chances to other cricketers. They are playing Ranji Trophy.”
Questions are being asked of Rohit’s fitness as the veteran opener had missed several high-profile series in the recent past due to injury concerns. With a T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup coming in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Rohit needs to be at his fittest best to lead the team in white-ball formats.
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India’s Test squad for SL series: Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, R Ashwin (fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Sourabh Kumar.
