India captain Rohit Sharma to be rested for West Indies series: Ajinkya Rahane to be next Test captain?

Add as a preferred source on Google

India captain Rohit Sharma may well be given rest for part of the upcoming West Indies tour, according to reports.

Rohit Sharma has been under pressure after India's dismal outing in the WTC Final 2023, as they were beaten comprehensively by Australia.

Rohit Sharma has had an injury-ladden last twelve months and his batting was not up to the mark in the WTC Final. Along with that, the Indian skipper had questions on team selection after the omission of Ravichandran Ashwin from the team in the WTC Final.

There are speculations about his role as captain and latest reports suggest the batter may get a rest for part of the Caribbean tour. He can be rested for either of the Test series or the limited-overs matches afterwards.

The selectors are set to have a talk with the Indian captain and then they will have their final decision made on his availability in the West Indies series. India will play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is which start from July 12.

"The selectors want him to rest for some part of the West Indies tour," a report in the Times Of India quoted citing an unnamed source.

"Rohit looked a bit jaded during the IPL and the World Test Championship final in England. He is likely to miss the Tests or the eight-match white-ball series (three ODIs and five T20Is) to follow. The selectors will speak to Rohit and then take a decision," the report further added citing the source.

The India captain struggled in the WTC Final with just 58 runs across two innings. He also had a dismal outing in the IPL 2023 season, scoring just 332 runs in 16 games for the Mumbai Indians.

Ajinkya Rahane to be the next Test captain?

Rohit Sharma is set to take the final call on his availability in the West Indies series. If the Indian captain chooses to miss out on the Test series, team India will require a new captain.

Virat Kohli is also likely to be left out for part of the series and if Kohli also not named, India will have to hand over captaincy duties to Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane was India's standout performer in the WTC Final, scoring 89 and 46 runs in two innings.

The rejuvenated batter has shown a different version of his and has been in a rich vein of form. Rahane also did extremely well as an India captain before.

During the Australia Test series in 2021, it was Rahane who won two Tests down under to win the series in Australia after then captain Virat Kohli came back to India after the first Test. Rahane led India in the final three matches and won two matches as India lifted the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.

In the present circumstances, if Rohit decides to opt-out from Tests, Rahane will be India's best bet to lead the team.