Related Articles
In the aftermath of India’s disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 campaign, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implemented strict measures, making domestic participation mandatory for centrally contracted players and limiting the travel of wives and girlfriends on overseas tours.
Now, fresh reports suggest a potential major shift in India’s Test captaincy. According to myKhel, Virat Kohli is being considered for a return as India’s Test captain on an interim basis, with head coach Gautam Gambhir backing the move.
Table of content
Rohit Sharma’s Struggles & Captaincy Uncertainty
India’s current Test captain, Rohit Sharma, had a tough time during the Australia series, to the extent that he reportedly considered stepping down from the fifth and final Test in Sydney.
Rumors suggest that the Melbourne Test may have been Rohit’s last as a Test player, given that he is unlikely to feature in India’s plans for the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, which starts in June with a tour of England.
The report further claims that Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to be considered for Test captaincy due to workload management. As a result, Kohli emerges as the ideal choice to take over the leadership temporarily.
Gautam Gambhir Wants Kohli to Lead Again?
A source quoted in the report stated:
💬 “Coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the idea of Virat leading the Test team again. But he is yet to clear his stance officially.”
💬 “Team India has done well under Kohli’s aggressive captaincy, especially in overseas conditions. With the new WTC cycle beginning, the team needs a leader like him because the next generation of Test captains is still developing. In the interim, Kohli seems like the most suitable option.”
It is also believed that Kohli has been approached for the role but is yet to make his decision.
Rohit Sharma Reacts to Captaincy Speculations
Amidst the growing uncertainty over his Test future, Rohit Sharma was visibly irritated when questioned about his form and captaincy status ahead of the first ODI against England in Nagpur.
When a journalist asked whether he was feeling more comfortable in white-ball cricket after his struggles in Tests, Rohit snapped:
💬 “What sort of a question is that? This is a different format, different time. As cricketers, we know there will be ups and downs. I have faced that a lot in my career. This is nothing new to me.”
When pressed about reports of the BCCI seeking clarity on his future after the Champions Trophy, Rohit lost his cool again:
💬 “How is it relevant that I talk about my future plans sitting here, where there are three ODIs and a Champions Trophy coming up?”
💬 “The reports have been going on for years, but I am not here to clarify them. My focus is on these games, and we will see what happens afterwards.”
Rohit Sharma’s Poor Form Raises More Questions
Rohit’s lean patch continued in the first ODI vs England, where he was dismissed for just 2 runs off 7 balls, top-edging a flick off Saqib Mahmood into Liam Livingstone’s hands.
📉 Rohit Sharma’s scores in the 2024/25 season across formats:
🔸 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6, 10, 3, 9, 2
🔸 Total Runs: 166 in 16 innings
🔸 Average: 10.37
With the BCCI potentially planning a leadership change, all eyes are now on Kohli’s decision and how Rohit responds to mounting pressure. 🚨
