'Never appoint a vice-captain for India': Ravi Shastri gives his verdict on KL Rahul sacking

Former India coach Ravi Shastri has reckoned that India should never appoint a vice-captain, especially when playing at home.

The comments from Shastri came while talking about opener KL Rahul's form and his sacking from India Test captaincy. Notably, the 30-year-old has struggled with his form lately and his place in the squad and in the eleven has been a subject of public debate.

The BCCI selectors retained him for the last two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but took the vice-captaincy role away from him. However, a new vice-captain was also not appointed.

Speaking on the ICC Review Podcast, Shastri stated that having no vice-captain can make it easy for someone else to take his place if he is out of form. The 60-year-old backed in-form Shubman Gill to replace a struggling Rahul in the eleven.

“The team management will decide (the vice-captain). They know his (Rahul's) form, they know his mental state. They know how they should be watching someone like Shubman Gill. I, for one, always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India. I would rather go with by best XI, and if captain has to leave the field, you'd zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don't need to create complications.

Ravi Shastri explains why India shouldn't have vice-captain

“If vice-captain doesn't perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I'm being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home condition. Overseas, it's different. Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Shubman Gill, who's red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he's not the vice-captain, it has to be team management's decision,” said Shastri.

KL Rahul not the only talented played in India

The former India all-rounder also minced no words in asserting that Rahul was not the only talented player in India and there are many waiting for an opportunity.

“They will have to see form, his state of mind. He's a tremendous player, but talent is only so much. You have to convert that into results and be consistent. There's so much talent in India who is knocking the door. It's not just KL Rahul, there are many in the middle-order and bowling lineup as well,” said Shastri.