'Can't have captain who gets injured at start of Test series': Saba Karim on Rohit Sharma leading India across formats

Virat Kohli’s resignation as captain has put the Indian Test team in a spot of bother. A day after India’s 1-2 defeat against South Africa earlier this month, the 33-year-old took to Twitter and made the major announcement. Now, there’s no obvious choice to fill Kohli’s boots in the longest format of the game. However, Rohit Sharma, who also has the reins of the white-ball team, is the front-runner to get the role.

Rohit is certainly a proven leader and has also been doing well in the purest format lately. However, he’s prone to injuries and will turn 35 in April this year. Owing to the same, many believe that the national selectors shouldn’t appoint the veteran opener for the role. Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim also has a similar opinion but he feels Rohit is the only option available.

Rohit Sharma’s appointment as all-format captain will be a short-term assignment: Saba Karim

Karim believes Rohit’s appointment as skipper across formats will be a short-term arrangement with two World Cups and a World Test Championship final being in schedule in the next 1.5 years.

“Even if Rohit Sharma is appointed captain in all three formats, it will be a short-term assignment. 2023 is a very important year for Indian cricket. We have the 50-over World Cup and the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle will also end. They need to look at this phase first,” Karim explained on the Khelneeti podcast.

The former BCCI selector also pointed out that the team management needs to groom a youngster who can be ready at the end of Rohit’s tenure. “They need to groom someone who plays all three formats. Right now, Rohit is the only option because no one like a KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant has been groomed,” he further said.

In the last couple of years, Rohit missed crucial Test series in New Zealand, South Africa and a couple of Tests in Australia due to fitness concerns. Karim said the selectors should take this factor into account before giving the responsibility to Rohit.

“Leaving alone leading, even playing all three formats is a huge task for him. He has been injured multiple times and even now he is returning from rehab. The physio, trainers and everyone involved with his fitness needs to be consulted before making such a big decision. We cannot have a captain who gets injured at the start of a Test series,” Karim further added.