Yuvraj Singh Backs Rishabh Pant To Become Next India Test Captain
Published - 16 Jan 2022, 11:18 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 09:39 PM
Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has backed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to become the next Indian team Test captain, citing his valuable experience behind the stumps. This necessity arise after Virat Kohli dropped a bombshell of quitting as the Test captain on Saturday.
Kohli, who earlier stepped down as T20I captain after the T20 World Cup 2021 and was sacked as ODI captain a few days later. He recently led the Indian team in the three-Test series against South Africa, in which India lost 1-2 despite scoring a historic Test win in Centurion in the first match. Kohli himself managed just one half-century in the entire series, though applied himself nicely in the third and final Test.
Now, the biggest question is who’ll fill the boots of India’s most successful Test skipper. The options are plenty but no choice is straightforward. The designated vice-captain Rohit Sharma missed this South Africa tour due to a hamstring injury, leading to KL Rahul making his Test captaincy debut in Johannesburg. He will also lead India in the ODI series as well, which begins January 19 onwards.
Yuvraj Singh Wants Rishabh Pant To Be Made New Test Captain
Meanwhile, former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has Rishabh Pant to take over the reins from Kohli. The 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup winner suggested that being a keeper, Pant has the ability to read the game well and is ready to become captain.
Pant has already captained Delhi in domestic cricket and captained Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 so well, that the franchise decided to retain him as captain for the IPL 20222 onwards over the much successful Shreyas Iyer.
The ex-Indian cricketer put his opinion forward while reacting to Sunil Gavaskar’s comments. Gavaskar feels the leadership responsibility would make Pant a better player and Yuvraj couldn’t agree more.
“Absolutely! Reads the game well behind the stumps,” tweeted Yuvraj while reacting to Gavaskar’s comment.
Absolutely! Reads the game well behind the stumps
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) J<!---->a<!---->n<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->5<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Pant, who recently slammed a staggering century in the Cape Town Test, has emerged as one of the best wicketkeeper-batters in the format. He has 1735 runs in 28 Tests at an average of 39.40. 529 runs in 18 ODIs and 623 runs in 41 T20I matches for India.