3 players who can replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain

In the wake of India's humiliating defeat against Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final, there have been widespread calls to remove Rohit Sharma as India's Test captain. The opening batter was appointed the captain in 2022 after Virat Kohli decided to step down as Test captain despite doing exceptionally well. Kohli's surprising call came after being removed as India's T20I and ODI captain. Rohit did well to take India to the WTC final but failed to lead the team to a win. India flopped with both bat and ball as Australia thrashed the Rohit Sharma-led side by 209 runs to clinch their first-ever WTC title. The defeat has only extended India's long wait for an ICC title. Desperate fans and several experts have called for a new captain ahead of the new WTC cycle. Few fans have even called for Kohli to be reinstated as Test captain. While Kohli is more than unlikely to retake charge of the Test team, Let us have a look at three possible options for India's new Test captain if Rohit is eventually sacked from his role. 3 players who can replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain: 3. Shreyas Iyer Shreyas Iyer (Photo Source: Twitter) Although Shreyas Iyer has not led a team at the international level, he is not new to captaincy. He has been given leadership roles in the domestic circuit as well as in the Indian Premier League. The right-handed batter made his Test debut in 2021 and soon became a vital member of the team before being sidelined with an injury. He will likely return to the Test team as soon as he recovers. Iyer has proved himself as a batter the in red-ball format and is looking likely to serve Indian cricket for a long time as a middle-order batsman. Iyer could be a bold captaincy option for Team India. Not only has he done well as a captain, but he has also led from the front whenever he has the chance. When he was named the captain of India B's squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy, he finished the competition as the leading run-scorer. In the same year, he was also named captain of IPL outfit Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) at the age of only 23. On his captaincy debut, he smashed an unbeaten 93 before leading them to the playoffs in 2019 and their first-ever IPL final in 2020. In 2022, Kolkata Knight Riders signed him up and named him as their captain. 2. Rishabh Pant Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Rishabh Pant could be another good option for India's new Test captain. At just 25, he has already become an indispensable part of the Test team. Test centuries in England, South Africa and Australia have made him arguably the best Test wicketkeeper-batsman in the world at present. With an eye on the future, he could be the right man to replace Rohit as India's Test captain. Pant is not new to captaincy either and is already a part of team India's leadership group. In June 2022, he was named India's captain for the T20I series against South Africa after KL Rahul was ruled out with an injury. Way back in 2017, he also replaced Gautam Gambhir as Delhi's captain for the Vijay Hazare trophy while he was just 20 years old. And in 2021, Delhi Capitals decided to replace Iyer with him as their captain after the latter suffered an injury. In 2022, Delhi decided to persist with Pant as their captain while releasing Iyer. Pant is already an established Test team member, and he could just be the right man to replace Rohit. 1. Ravichandran Ashwin Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI) Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin might have failed to be a part of India's playing XI for the WTC final, but his acumen on the cricket field is not doubted by many. One of India's most decorated spinners, Ashwin has been the biggest match-winner for the team in Tests in recent years. Even Virat Kohli has not managed to make an impact in Tests as Ashwin. Ashwin might not be a captaincy option for the long term, but he could be an ideal man for at least the next two years. His experience is bound to help India in the most extended format of the game. Not only that, but Ashwin's appointment could also give the Indian team management some much-needed time to groom the next Test captain. Something similar happened in 2007 when veteran spinner Anil Kumble replaced Rahul Dravid as the Test captain at the age of 37. While he did not lead India for long, it gave the team management just the right amount of time to groom MS Dhoni as his successor.

3 players who can replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain

In the wake of India's humiliating defeat against Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final, widespread calls have been to remove Rohit Sharma as India's Test captain.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin