The landscape of Indian cricket leadership is undergoing a significant shift, particularly in the Test format, following Rohit Sharma's recent retirement. This has opened up a crucial debate about who will lead the team in the upcoming five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20 and also marks the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. Amidst the speculation, former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad has weighed in, suggesting a somewhat surprising candidate for the captaincy: KL Rahul.
Prasad's perspective challenges the widely held notion that Shubman Gill is the natural heir to the captaincy. While Gill has been the designated vice-captain in ODIs and is seen as a potential leader for the future, Prasad believes that the young batter should be allowed to focus on his batting, especially as he establishes himself at the No. 3 spot in Tests. He has particularly pointed out Gill's struggles away from home, especially in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) conditions, as a cause for concern. This stance indicates a desire to shield Gill from the pressures of captaincy, allowing him to concentrate on improving his performance in challenging overseas conditions.
Instead, Prasad has identified three potential choices for the Test captaincy: Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul. While Bumrah is his preferred choice, citing Bumrah's impressive leadership in the past, especially his leadership during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, where he led India to their only win in Perth, Prasad acknowledges concerns about Bumrah's fitness and workload management. Given these concerns, Prasad proposes KL Rahul as a viable alternative, even suggesting that Rahul could bat at No. 4, a position previously held by Virat Kohli.
This endorsement of Rahul as a potential captaincy candidate is noteworthy. While Rahul is undoubtedly a talented player, his form in Test cricket has been inconsistent at times. However, Prasad seems to value Rahul's experience and leadership qualities, viewing him as someone who can step up if Bumrah's fitness becomes an issue. Furthermore, Prasad's selection of his ideal squad for the England tour indicates a clear role for Rahul in the team, further solidifying his importance in the Test setup.
Notably, Prasad has also suggested that if Bumrah is appointed captain, Gill should be made the vice-captain to groom him for future leadership roles. This highlights Prasad's long-term vision for Indian cricket, where Gill is seen as a leader in the making, even if he is not quite ready to take on the full responsibility of captaincy just yet. Ravichandran Ashwin has also thrown Ravindra Jadeja's name into the hat, given his experience.
The decision on who will lead the Indian Test team in England is a crucial one, with the chosen captain tasked with guiding the team through a challenging series and the next World Test Championship cycle. While Shubman Gill is undoubtedly a player with immense potential, MSK Prasad's suggestion that KL Rahul could be a "dark horse" for the captaincy adds an intriguing dimension to the debate. Ultimately, the selectors will need to weigh all options carefully before making a final decision that is in the best interests of the team.
