KL Rahul led the Indian team for the first time after Virat Kohli missed the Johannesburg Test due to an injury. Wasim Jaffer, however, feels Ajinkya Rahane should’ve been given the baton instead.
KL Rahul made his India captaincy bow in the second Test of the 3-match series against South Africa at Johannesburg, but couldn’t guide the team to a victory. KL Rahul was put in charge of the team after Virat Kohli had missed the fixture due to an injury. Wasim Jaffer, however, feels KL Rahul wasn’t the right choice, and the responsibility should’ve been handed to Ajinkya Rahane.
KL Rahul Captained After Virat Kohli Was Ruled Out For Back Spasms Which Surprised Wasim Jaffer Who Felt Ajinkya Rajhane Should Have Led Instead
The role of Test vice-captain was taken away from Ajinkya Rahane ahead of the South Africa tour, with Rohit Sharma being given the designation. However, as Rohit Sharma missed the series due to an injury, it was KL Rahul who got the selectors’ nod for the role.
Wasim Jaffer said that he was quite surprised with the team management’s decision considering the sort of record Ajinkya Rahane has while leading India in Tests.
“I am surprised by the team management. When you have someone as good as Ajinkya Rahane available who has not lost any Test as a captain and won you a Test series in Australia, do you need to give the Test captaincy to KL Rahul?” Jaffer said.
“I have nothing against KL Rahul. He is young and has captained the Punjab Kings. People are thinking about him as a future captain. But I think Rahane should have led the side in Kohli’s absence,” he added.
Ajinkya Rahane has captained India in 6 Tests, remaining unbeaten with 4 wins and 2 draws. Ajinkya Rahane was last appointed as the captain of the Indian team for the first Test against New Zealand in November 2021, as Virat Kohli had been rested. But KL Rahul, who had replaced Ajinkya Rahane as India’s Test vice-captain, stood in for the Delhi-born Virat Kohli when he was injured for the 2nd Test against and in South Africa.
Wasim Jaffer: India Missed Virat Kohli
The absence of Virat Kohli in the Johannesburg Test was duly felt. Without him in the field, Wasim Jaffer feels the Indian team lacked the aggression and energy that Virat Kohli brings to the game.
“India definitely missed Virat Kohli, the captain, because he brings so much aggression to the field. When you have such a player on the field, you know you will be held accountable if you make a mistake. So, they missed that energy,” Jaffer asserted.
In all likeliness, Virat Kohli will return to lead the team in the series-decider at Cape Town. Virat Kohli’s return, however, also poses a big question for the team management. It isn’t yet known whether the India skipper will replace Hanuma Vihari in the playing XI or one of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
The third and final Test of the series is scheduled to get underway on Tuesday, January 11 at The Newlands in Cape Town. India won the first Test by 114 runs at the SuperSport Park in Centurion after which the home team stormed back by winning the 2nd Test by 7 wickets at Johannesburg.
KL Rahul is the top run-getter across both sides in the ongoing India versus South Africa 3 matches Test series. His 204 runs in the first 2 Tests have come at an excellent average of 51.00 and include a century and a half-century. KL Rahul became only the second Indian opener to score a century (123) in a Test in South Africa after Wasim Jaffer had amassed 116 in the 2007 series in Cape Town.