IND vs SA: Wasim Jaffer Questions Team Management's Decision To Assign KL Rahul As Captain In Johannesburg Test

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has questioned the team management’s decision to appoint KL Rahul as captain of the second Test in Johannesburg. Rahul was nominated as Virat Kohli’s deputy for the series despite the presence of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the squad. 

Both Rahane and Pujara are under the scanner for their poor run of form and thus Rahul was assigned as the captain in the second test in Johannesburg looking forward to the future. However, the move backfired as India lost the Test match with Rahul’s moves as captain drawing criticism from former Indian cricketers. 

Ajinkya Rahane Should Have Led In Virat Kohli’s Absence: Wasim Jaffer

KL Rahul has experience of leading Punjab Kings in the IPL. However, Wasim Jaffer was of the view that Ajinkya Rahane should have been the captain in the second Test and not KL Rahul. Rahane has helped Team India to four wins out of six games with two matches ending in draws.

“I am surprised by the team management. When you have someone as good as Ajinkya Rahane available who has not lost any Test as a captain and won you a Test series in Australia, do you need to give the Test captaincy to KL Rahul?” Jaffer was quoted as saying to Insidesport.

“I have nothing against KL Rahul. He is young and has captained the Punjab Kings. People are thinking about him as a future captain. But I think Rahane should have led the side in Kohli’s absence,” Jafferfurther stated. 

The former Indian cricketer further said that India missed Virat Kohli dearly in the second Test. Kohli was ruled out with a back spasm hurting India’s chances of scoring a big total with the bat. As it turned out, India scored 206 and 266 in the two innings. 

“India definitely missed Virat Kohli, the captain, because he brings so much aggression to the field. When you have such a player on the field, you know you will be held accountable if you make a mistake. So, they missed that energy,” Jaffer added.

India head coach Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara gave an update on Kohli’s fitness during a press conference after the second Test. Both of them said Kohli should be fit for the final Test in Cape Town starting on 11. The series is poised at 1-1 after the hosts won the second Test.

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