Stop Dreaming!! KL Rahul-Rishabh Pant sent brutal India captaincy message after Duleep Trophy snub

As the Indian cricketers gear up for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul were kept away from the captaincy role in the red-ball tournament, which has sparked intense speculation among the fans and cricket pandits, including Dinesh Karthik.

The decision to overlook Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul for the captaincy role in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024, starting on September 5, raised questions about their prospects. Both Pant and Rahul have showcased their talents both as the captain and wicketkeeper-batter across the formats.

Are Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul's Test captaincy dreams over?

While Rishabh Pant is known for his aggressive batting and game-changing abilities, KL Rahul is known for his versatile skills.

However, it seems that the Indian selectors and team management want them to focus on their performance and consistency rather than the leadership prospects.

Well, Karthik admitted that Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are now out of the race for India's Test captaincy, with Rohit Sharma being at the helm for the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle and Jasprit Bumrah as his deputy. He stressed that the leadership baton may not pass to Pant or Rahul anytime soon.

While Rishabh Pant and Rahul continue to be vital cogs in India's cricketing machinery, the team management seems to be prioritizing stability and experience.

As Rohit and Bumrah lead the charge, the wicketkeepers need to bide their time, proving their worth through consistent performances rather than eyeing the captain's armband in Test cricket.

The latest call made it clear that the path to captaincy for Pant and Rahul is not straightforward, and Karthik believes that their immediate challenge is to cement their places in the playing XI, ensuring they remain crucial players to the team's success before the captaincy consideration.

I don't think they'll be thinking of captaincy: Dinesh Karthik on Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul

Karthik has shockingly opined that Pant and Rahul are now out of contention for India’s Test captaincy after they were overlooked for the leadership roles in the upcoming tournament.

However, the former cricketer insisted that even his former teammates are not thinking of captaincy, but rather focusing on their performances to cement their positions in India’s XI.

Dinesh Karthik was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “At the moment, Rohit Sharma is going to lead up to the next World Test Championship cycle, and Jasprit Bumrah is the vice-captain. So yes, for the moment, I don't think they'll be thinking of captaincy as much as they would want to perform and be a consistent member in the XI.”

Earlier, Pant was reportedly not considered for India’s T20I captaincy because the BCCI didn’t want to overburden the explosive left-hander, as he is also their wicketkeeper and is the current captain of the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL.

BCCI against overburdening Pant

The BCCI wants Pant to return gradually across the formats and cement his place in the playing XI without any fitness issues, considering his lengthy recovery from the injuries sustained in a horrific car accident.

On the other hand, Rahul captained Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2024, but he is likely to leave the franchise ahead of the next season due to the drama with the owner, Sanjiv Goenka.

It is being said that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is keen on signing Rahul back for the upcoming IPL 2025.