Former national selector Saba Karim has lauded the selectors’ decision to pick KL Rahul as the vice-captain of the Indian Test team for the upcoming series against South Africa. Last week, Rohit Sharma was appointed as the new vice-captain of the Indian Test team, replacing Ajinkya Rahane. However, the opener has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury, due to which the selectors have picked Rahul for the role.
In an interaction with India News, Karim lauded the timing of the decision as he elaborated on the process that led to the selection for the new post. According to him, based on the comments of the team members and what the selectors have to say about future captaincy roles, the opener emerged as the favorite for the post.
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He said, ‘It is true because many times the selectors talk to the team management about what kind of reaction is coming from there, what is going on in their mind that who can prove to be a capable leader in future and only then The decision is taken.”
Although the management has called for Rohit to go ahead with Rohit in limited overs cricket and play Kohli’s deputy in Tests, the management will have to think of a longer-term and younger option. Rahul has the experience of leading a team and is one of the few players in the Indian set-up who plays in all formats. Hence, many fans and cricket experts believe that the decision was well taken.
Backing that opinion, Karim says, “KL Rahul is a player who can captain in the future. He has captained the Punjab Kings well in the IPL, has had a good run and KL Rahul is currently a multi-format player.
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Since his debut in 2014, Rahul has played 40 Tests for India, scoring 2321 runs at an average of 35.16, including six centuries and 12 fifties. Rahul was in fine form with the bat in the England Test earlier this year, scoring 315 runs in four matches but was ruled out of the home series against New Zealand due to a hamstring strain. The three-match Test series will begin on December 26 with the Boxing Day Test at Centurion.
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