Should Not Disturb Conbination Of Virat Kohli The Leader And Ajinkya Rahane As His Deputy: Anjum Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Anjum Chopra believes that constant murmurs regarding the change of leadership will only serve to create distress in the Indian dressing room as she backed skipper Virat Kohli to continue leading the team.

Ever since Ajinkya Rahane led India to a historic series win in Australia in the absence of Virat Kohli, a narrative has been built by a section of former cricketers and fans, who have called for the former to take over the leadership duties from Kohli.

What has added fuel to the narrative is the fact that Team India lost their fourth consecutive Tests under the leadership of Virat Kohli against England last week.

Speaking to India Today, Anjum Chopra that while Ajinkya Rahane did a brilliant job in Australia in the absence of Virat Kohli, it is unfair to disturb the combination of the senior Test side.

“Nothing. I don’t make anything of that argument (change in captaincy calls). Ajinkya Rahane scored a hundred, we won the Test match in Melbourne, brilliant! We drew the Test match in Sydney, we won the Test match in Brisbane, excellent performance. Every player has to go out there and perform. It’s not Ajinkya vs Virat or Virat vs Rohit. It’s about whoever is given an opportunity to go out there and perform, they are doing it to the best of their abilities and getting victories for the Indian team,” Anjum Chopra said.

“To say Virat should make way for Ajinkya just because Ajinkya’s team won in Australia Instead of creating a nice environment, it’s creating a conflict in the dressing room. Why go that way,” she added.

 

‘Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli have been excellent friends’- Anjum Chopra

Anjum Chopra further added that despite their designations, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane continue to be excellent friends.

Both Kohli and Rahane have held each other in high regard in the past few days. While Rahane, in the lead-up to the Test series, reiterated that Virat will always be the captain of the Test team and that his job is to make Virat’s life easier as captain.

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, defended Ajinkya Rahane’s inconsistent form after the vice-captain endured a horror outing in both the innings of the last Test. Kohli maintained that Rahane will continue to remain as the Test team’s vital cog.

“Ajinkya and Virat have been excellent friends. Designations don’t matter. Both of them played to help the team win. Only one of them can go out and toss the coin,” she said.

“As far as the dressing room camaraderie is fine, if people are thinking on the same lines, then I don’t think at the present moment the combination of Virat leading the side and Ajinkya as his deputy should be disturbed. You never know what the future holds but at the moment it shouldn’t be disturbed,” Anjum Chopra added.

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