KL Rahul should be made India's Test captain, says former BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale

Virat Kohli on Saturday announced his decision to step down as India’s captain in the longest format of the game. Thus, all eyes are on the BCCI as they will be announcing India’s new Test captain sooner or later. Cricket fans and experts have suggested several names such as KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah.

However, former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale believes that KL Rahul should be handed over India’s Test captaincy. The 71-year-old was of the opinion that the Karnataka batter can provide long-term leadership. He also felt that Rahul has performed well in all three formats of the game.

“I feel that the next India Test captain should be the one who can take the responsibility for a longer period of time. So accordingly, I would suggest KL Rahul’s name as the next test captain,” said Sanjay Jagdale, as quoted by The New Indian Express. It is to be noted that the former first-class cricketer was also an office-bearer with Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA).

Selectors should ensure that IPL “power centres” do not interfere in policies of Indian cricket: Sanjay Jagdale.

“Nobody can ignore Kohli’s contribution in Test cricket,” he added while appreciating the 33-year-old. With 40 Test wins, Kohli signed off as India’s most successful captain in whites. Jagdale also stressed the fact that the BCCI, as well as the selectors, should make sure that the IPL “power centres” do not interfere in policies of Indian cricket.

Rahul, who wasn’t even a regular in India’s playing XI in red-ball cricket a year ago, now finds himself as one of the candidates to lead the Asian side in the longest format of the game. One of the major reasons for that is his successful returns with the bat of late. He was superb during the Test series in England, and was again good during the recently concluded Test series against South Africa.

Although Rohit Sharma was recently made the vice-captain of India’s red-ball side, an injury meant that he had to skip the tour to the rainbow nation. Thus, when Kohli was injured during the second Test in Johannesburg, Rahul was asked to lead the side. Irrespective of who becomes India’s next Test captain, not only will he have a lot of responsibility, but the expectations from him will be high as well.