Aakash Chopra backs Devdutt Padikkal as long-term Test prospect, questions KL Rahul vice-captaincy

Aakash Chopra has offered his perspective on India's middle-order selection and the team's recent captaincy decisions. The former India opener addressed the appointment of Devdutt Padikkal at the No. 3 position and raised questions about KL Rahul's role as vice-captain under the current leadership structure.

Chopra explained his view on Padikkal's selection, emphasising that the batter earned his opportunity through merit rather than being fast-tracked into the side. According to Chopra, Padikkal is a technically sound player who has proven himself through domestic cricket before joining the Test squad.

"It's not horses for courses. A place had opened up, and he got a chance. He is a proper, proper player. He plays very well technically and has come here after going through the rigors of first-class cricket. It's not like you have fast-tracked him. We had definitely fast-tracked Sai Sudharsan a little because it seemed like he was just the right guy for Test cricket," said Chopra on his YouTube channel.

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Chopra backs Padikkal as long-term Test prospect

Chopra expressed confidence in Padikkal's long-term prospects in the Test team. He believes the batter's playing style and consistent run-scoring suggest this is not a short-term arrangement but rather the beginning of a sustained Test career.

"Padikkal's playing style is also like that, and he is backing it up with a lot of runs. So this is not a short-term selection. In my opinion, Devdutt Padikkal could be here for a very, very long time. He will remain in the team if the next match goes well. The real test will be the two Tests in New Zealand, and then the five against Australia at home," Chopra said.

Chopra questions the vice-captaincy appointment

Chopra also questioned the logic behind KL Rahul's appointment as vice-captain. He raised concerns about the age difference between the vice-captain and the current captain, suggesting that a vice-captain should typically be of similar age or younger to represent the next generation of leadership.

"I am with you on this one. I have never thought from that perspective. You think about a vice-captain from what perspective? That he is next in line, that if the captain goes, the second one will come, but the second should either be of the same age or younger," Chopra said.

"If you are making a vice-captain who is eight years older than the captain, as good as KL Rahul is, he is a good captaincy candidate, he has got a good cricketing brain, but he is not getting younger. If he is doing the vice-captaincy for a 26-year-old captain, he is not the next in line," he concluded.