Since Virat Kohli has stepped down suddenly, Rohit Sharma will be India's next Test captain: Sanjay Manjrekar

Virat Kohli announced that he would like to step down as the captain of the Indian Test side after the three-match Test series against South Africa, which India lost 1-2. And now, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has weighed in on who can take over as the captain of the Indian side from Kohli.

Manjrekar opined that Test cricket is still sacred to everybody involved with Indian cricket, and added that the captaincy will not go to Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul straightaway. Adding that both Pant and Rahul will be ‘captains in waiting’, Manjrekar said that Rohit Sharma will become the next captain of the Indian Test side.

“I think Test cricket is still pretty sacred to everyone in Indian cricket. So, I don’t think they will go to Rishabh Pant straightaway, neither KL Rahul. Rohit Sharma will get it, and these players will all be captains in waiting,” said Sanjay Manjrekar in a chat with ESPNCricinfo.

Physical fitness is going to be the challenge for Rohit Sharma: Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar also added that physical fitness will be a challenge for Rohit Sharma. Adding that the ‘Hitman’ is fit for the job when his leadership skills are taken into account, Manjrekar concluded by stating that since Kohli has stepped down suddenly, Rohit Sharma will don the skipper’s hat for the Indian side in the next Test that they play.

“KL Rahul’s form has to remain intact. But yes, that’s a big challenge for Rohit Sharma, his fitness, because when you look at the batting and overall his leadership skills, he is pretty fit for the job from that standpoint. Physical fitness is going to be a challenge but because this has come sudden, in the next series, you will see Rohit Sharma as India’s Test captain,” concluded Sanjay Manjrekar.

India will play their next Test match on 25th February 2022 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore against the Sri Lankan side. This Test match will also be Virat Kohli’s 100th in the longest format of the game. Rohit Sharma is already the captain of the Indian side in limited-overs cricket.