Team India is set to lock horns with Australia in the Third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Holkar Stadium in Indore on March 1. Hosts are currently organizing optional practice camps as some players are on personal leave. Meanwhile, as the team moves ahead of the game concerns mount over the place of opener KL Rahul in the playing XI. Now, former India Coach Ravi Shastri has made a blunt remark over the issue.
KL Rahul is consistently inconsistent with bat and has been a loose point in India’s batting line for a long time. He has failed to make an impact with the bat. Although, despite his poor performance team management has backed him for the upcoming Tests and ODI series. However, he was sacked as deputy of Rohit Sharma. Speaking on the same, ex-coach Shastri said that India should go with best playing XI and should not appoint any Vice-captain for home series.
“I always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India. I would rather go with my best XI, and if the captain has to leave the field, you’d zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don’t need to create complications”, said Shastri while speaking on a cricket show.
‘A break in these conditions is far better, says Ravi Shastri
The cricketer-turned-commentator further said that Rahul will be challenged by in-form players like Shubman Gill and sometimes a break is more important in these situations. “If the vice-captain doesn’t perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I’m being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home conditions. Overseas, it’s different”, Shastri further said.
“Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Gill, who’s red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he’s not the vice-captain, it has to be team management’s decision,” he further added.
Meanwhile, netizens trolled Ravi Shastri over his ‘no need of vice-captain’ comments and ask if Captain got injured who will lead the team. A Twitter user said, “PK hai kya.”
Here are some Tweets:
Yeah agar koi injury ho jaaye captain ko toh players apni marji se fielding krenge 👍🏻👍🏻
— Karamvir Singh (@KaramvirS22) February 26, 2023
He keeps vice captain by his side for alcohol 🍺 duty
— Jets (@riyatoo2) February 26, 2023
Ha jab captain aaram krne jaye toh ye darubaaz captaincy krega field pe jake.
— Wanderer (@Wanderer264264) February 26, 2023
Captain b nhi hona chiyee 😂
— Atif Awan (@atifaven) February 26, 2023
And if the captain gets injured, Chetan Sharma will takeover the captaincy
— TK (@incbeing) February 27, 2023
Dont appoint a captian too that way and go with best XI
— naq5 (@ntweet_55) February 26, 2023
Vice captain tbhi hi announce kro jb majboori ho captain injured ho ya kisi problem ki wajah se vo match na khel paye ..Seedhe baat 👍👍….
— Saloni❣️🇮🇳 (@_saloniiiihere_) February 26, 2023
Le KL Rahul: pic.twitter.com/qLc0D9ds1e
— Tannu rajput (@_Dukhi__aatma__) February 27, 2023
Genius, who takes over the captaincy if a captain is hurt in the middle of the game?
— Devi (@kam_devi) February 26, 2023
Wavi Whastri 🙏🙏
— Modric_fan (@_prof_18_) February 26, 2023