Aakash Chopra has identified Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as prospective Test captains for India if Rohit Sharma decides to step down.
The team of selectors recently picked a team of 16 Indian players, led by Rohit, for the imminent two-game Test series versus South Africa. Gill is included, but Pant was overlooked since his injury from a severe car accident hasn’t fully healed.
Chopra was asked in a video posted on his YouTube channel who he believes will be India’s next Test captain after Rohit Sharma, and he responded:
“I am talking about extremely long-term, it could be Shubman Gill. I am not talking about now, I am talking about the distant future. It could be Rishabh Pant. Rishabh Pant as a Test cricketer is 24-carat gold.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener added:
“So he could also be the one. He is a game changer. So I will look towards one of these two once Rohit says he is done with Test cricket and that you can appoint someone else as the skipper.”
Aakash Chopra
Shubman Gill, 24, has never captained India in any format, but will captain the Gujarat Titans in the 2017 Indian Premier League season. Rishabh Pant has captained the Men in Blue in five Twenty20 Internationals but never in the longer format.
Aakash Chopra evaluates India’s prospects of clinching their first-ever Test series in South Africa
Someone asked Aakash Chopra if India has a shot at their first-ever Test series victory in South Africa. Here’s what he said:
“They can win but it’s not going to be easy because it’s just a two-match series. There are fewer chances of draws in a two-match series and we take time to read the conditions, although we will be fully prepared as we will reach there after playing quite a few friendly and India A games.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra went on to say that all outcomes in the two-match series are conceivable and that the Proteas are tough opponents at home. He clarified:
“However, South Africa in South Africa is a different beast altogether. I feel India will do well but whether they will win – no idea, it won’t be easy. The series might end 1-1, we might win and could lose as well. I am not ruling out any result because it is South Africa.”
Aakash Chopra
In South Africa, India has never prevailed in a Test series. They have only ever drawn a Test series in South Africa, which occurred in 2010–11 when they won the second game by 87 runs following a loss in the first. The final match ended in a draw.
