'Yahi dekhna bacha tha' - Netizens displeased with Cheteshwar Pujara being named vice-captain for Bangladesh Tests

On Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the revised squad ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh. With Rohit Sharma ruled out of the series owing to a thumb injury he picked up during the ODI contest, the management has made quite a few changes for the red-ball series. Abhimanyu Easwaran is set to join the side as Rohit’s replacement for the series.

Interestingly, one of the changes which garnered a lot of attention was that of Cheteshwar Pujara taking over as vice-captain of the side. Netizens were left baffled by the change in the leadership role and  slammed the management on social media.

KL Rahul, who was the vice-captain, has now taken over as the skipper of the side in Rohit's absence due to a thumb injury. Many expected wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to be named as the vice-captain but the selectors named Pujara for the role.

India have seen various players taking up leadership duties since the beginning of the year. The selection committee had clarified that youngsters like Pant, Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah will get opportunities with the leadership roles to groom them. However, veteran star Pujara was named the deputy of the side ahead of Pant and left many wondering.

India play Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, starting December 14. The series is a crucial one for India as the side will look to get a step closer to the ICC World Test Championship summit clash.

India's updated squad: KL Rahul (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat.

Here is how Twitter reacted to BCCI naming Cheteshwar Pujara as vice-captain-

My god i missed this news.
Why the *##$ Pujara is made the vice captain of Indian test team?
Why in heaven would u do that!!???

This is atrocious decision from all point of views!!!!!!#IndianCricket #CricketTwitter

— Partiush Sharma (@PartiushSharma) December 12, 2022

Lge hath pujara ko bhi vice captain bna diya,
Ab yahi dekhna baaki rah gya tha.

— Balram Burdiya (@BalramBurdiya) December 11, 2022

Interesting to see that Cheteshwar Pujara has been named the vice-captain for India's first Test against Bangladesh. In Rohit and Rahul's absence during the last Test in England in July, Rishabh Pant was Jasprit Bumrah's deputy.

— Lalith Kalidas (@lal__kal) December 11, 2022

Pujara is now back as a Vice Captain, whereas a year or so, the buzz was that he was on the way out. BCCI obviously has a well-thought-out strategy.

— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) December 12, 2022

Surprised to see the silent entry of Pujara in test team yet again, moreover, he is now our vice-captain.

If you cannot remove him from the team, make him more responsible. RIP logic.#IndvsBan

— Ankit Agrawal (@ankitech25) December 12, 2022

Rahul is captain and Pujara is vice captain !

lol this was not needed. Just give captaincy back to Virat Kohli

— sam (@indoriitweeter) December 11, 2022

How do you disrespect Rishab pant/Ashwin. He should be vice captain not that Pujara. https://t.co/lNYGv8R713

— Pradhyoth (@Pradhyoth1) December 11, 2022

And an over the hill Pujara as VC. BCCI has played a cruel joke on Rishabh Pant. Sacking selectors is just an eyewash but it is business as usual with BCCI.

— Shailesh Ghorpade (@Shaileshg21) December 12, 2022