KL Rahul
KL Rahul. Image Credits: Twitter

IND VS AUS 2023: India is leading the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) by 2-0 against Australia. Team India’s opener KL Rahul is struggling with his form and has not managed to go past 23 run mark in the last 10 test match innings. In a recent announcement by BCCI, Rahul’s name was missing the Vice-Captain (VC) tag on the front of his name in the squad list.

Indian board gave no reason for it, but speculation started after that might be the right-handed batter will be dropped from the next test match. Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri believes that the Indian team should never appoint VC and rather go on the field with his best XI, and if the captain has to leave the field he should then give someone the responsibility.

Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri. Image Credits: Twitter

Shastri expressed his view on the ongoing KL Rahul’s VC issue-

“The team management will decide (the vice-captain). They know his (Rahul’s) form, they know his mental state. They know how they should be watching someone like Shubman Gill,” said former Indian head coach.

“I, for one, always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India. I would rather go with by best XI, and if captain has to leave the field, you’d zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don’t need to create complications,” he further added.

Shastri became the Indian cricket team’s head coach in 2017, during his tenure Men in Blue performed exceptionally well in the overseas test series. The former Indian cricketer was replaced by Rahul Dravid from his post on November 2021. The 60-year-old played for the Indian cricket team from 1982 to 1991 in test matches and the ODI format.

“If vice-captain doesn’t perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I’m being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home condition. Overseas, it’s different. Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Shubman Gill, who’s red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he’s not the vice-captain, it has to be team management’s decision,” said Shastri.

“They will have to see form, his state of mind. He’s a tremendous player, but talent is only so much. You have to convert that into results and be consistent. There’s so much talent in India who is knocking the door. It’s not just KL Rahul, there are many in middle-order and bowling lineup as well,” concluded the Ex-Indian cricketer.

It will be interesting to see the combination with which team India will go for the rest of the two matches in the series. Former cricketers and media have together raised their voices against Rahul’s unimpressive performances for the last few years, especially in the longer format of the game.
Men in Blue needs to win at least three test matches of four test match series in the ongoing BGT to claim the World Test Championship (WTC) final berth. Rohit Sharma-led side will take on the Baggy Greens for the third test match at Indore on 1st March.