Salman Butt Names Three Players Who Could Be Virat Kohli's Successor As India Captain

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has named three players who he feels could lead Team India in the future post Virat Kohli.

While the current skipper will continue to lead the side, at least in Test cricket there is no debate about it, having taken India to the number 1 ICC rankings and now the WTC final, Salman Butt picked 3 players who are likely to be Kohli’s heir apparent in the future.

The first one of which he chooses is young Rishabh Pant. The left-hander was recently put at the helm of the Delhi Capitals for IPL 2021 in absence of the injured Shreyas Iyer. The 23-year-old led the side to the top of the table, with 6 wins in 8 matches, before the tournament was suspended. Pant has cemented his place in the side with his staggering form and is set to achieve greater heights.

“I am not aware of his domestic cricket (records) in-depth but from what I have seen in the IPL, if they handed Rishabh Pant the captaincy (of Delhi Capitals), then the cricket board (BCCI) may have some plans for the future. Even though Kohli is still young as he is not going anywhere for the next 8-9 years,” Salman Butt said in his YouTube video.

Rohit Sharma is an outstanding captain; Ajinkya Rahane did a very nice job in Australia: Salman Butt

Salman Butt then has Rohit Sharma, the white-ball vice-captain, and Ajinkya Rahane, the Test vice-captain, as the alternatives to replace the skipper.

The 36-year old discarded Pakistani cricketer heaps praise on the 5-time IPL winning skipper for his brilliant tactical nous. Salman Butt also glorified Rahane for leading a depleted India side to a historic comeback in the Test series triumph in Australia earlier in the year.

“Along with him (Pant), Rohit Sharma is an outstanding captain. I really like him as a captain. Strategically and tactically, he’s a very good captain. Recently, they (India) won the Test series in Australia in which Ajinkya Rahane was handling the captaincy. He also did a very nice job in Australia. Tactically, he was spot on and his decision-making was clear.

“In the long run, let’s see who turns up and what kind of a scenario is created. For now, it is not a matter of discussion for Indian cricket. They have 3-4 people anyway,” the former opener opined.

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