Rohit Sharma is a 'readymade choice' to replace Virat Kohli as the captain: Aakash Chopra

India has had good captains in the past. Previously, whenever a captain was replaced, his successor did well. It was the case with Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid and it could happen with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain and vice-captain have led the Indian team from the front and have been consistent performers.

Rohit is a good captain without any doubts. Kohli has been fantastic as well with his captaincy. India has a tremendous record under his captaincy. In fact, under Rohit, India has won the Asia Cup and the Nidahas Trophy. In a recent interaction, the cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra spoke on the captaincy options of the Indian team.

“India is blessed. If India feels 6 months or 1 and a half years down the line that we need a change of guard… I don’t think Kohli’s performance will get affected. He has reached that level wherein he won’t come down from there. His performances will be unaffected regardless of whether he is the captain or not,” Chopra said while speaking to sports presenter Sawera Pasha during a YouTube interaction.

Virat Kohli is improving as a captain: Aakash Chopra

Chopra suggested that if the Indian looks for a different leader with a different approach, they have someone like Rohit in their ranks. He also pointed out the Kohli has been improving as a captain.

“But as a team, sometimes you want a different direction. If you reach that stage, then Rohit Sharma is a readymade choice available. But till then, you need to persist with Kohli, he is improving as captain. If he has a good bowling attack, like the one he has in Tests, he is a fine captain who knows how to handle the bowlers well. But if he doesn’t have good bowlers, just like the case at RCB, then he is also not that aggressive,” Chopra said.

The former Indian opener talked about the ‘change of guard’ if India wins an ICC tournament in the next few years. India will host the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup along with 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.

“For the next 10-12 months, I think it will be Kohli. But after that, if you are looking for a change of guard… I wish India wins an ICC event soon because after 2013 we haven’t won anything. There is a T20 World Cup in India as well. Hopefully, India should win one of these 2. If they don’t win, then you may start thinking ‘let’s look for a change in leadership and find a different tone now’,” Chopra concluded.

With Kohli being the captain in all formats as well as in the IPL, there have been discussions that India can take up split captaincy to assist the Indian captain, but the leader of the pack hasn’t spoken himself on this matter.

Here’s the video: