'What's the problem if he is no.1 player across formats?' - Mohammad Azharuddin names India's automatic choice for Test captaincy

Virat Kohli’s resignation as Test captain has now created a headache for the selectors as Mohammad Azharuddin picked Rohit Sharma to be India’s next captain in the longest format without any doubts. Kohli had given up Test captaincy post the 2-1 series loss to South Africa and will play as a pure batter for India as well as in IPL from now on. Ajinkya Rahane has been the vice-captain for India in Tests until the recent tour of South Africa where he was replaced by Rohit considering his poor form.

Rahane would have been the ideal candidate for captaincy as he is yet to lose in five Tests so far but his batting concerns meant that India will look ahead of him. Rohit was not part of the South Africa Test series and hence, KL Rahul was given his Test captaincy debut in the second Test with Kohli missing out. It will be interesting to see if the selectors go in with the experienced Rohit, or pick KL Rahul considering the injury concerns of Rohit in the last two years.

Mohammad Azharuddin feels Rohit Sharma should be handed the Test captaincy

The former Indian captain Azharuddin was quite sure that the current Indian limited-overs captain, Rohit should be the automatic choice for Test captaincy as well considering his records in all formats. The Mumbai batter scored the most Test runs for India in 2021 and has proven his ability as an opener in away conditions. He recently brought up his first Test century in England and he has immense captaincy experience in IPL.

“If he is your no.1 player in all formats, then what is the problem?. I feel seeing 5-6 years ahead is a long time. You should definitely look forward but need to see immediate as well. Just to look forward, you cannot give to an inexperienced player, which might cause a problem.”

“I feel Rohit Sharma is a good player and can be a very good captain. He might play cricket for another two or three years, he might play more as well but his fitness will be very important because his hamstring becomes weak repeatedly.” Azharuddin told while speaking to India News

Azharuddin added that Rohit’s ability to play attacking cricket will be an added advantage and reckoned it could have made a huge difference in the recent Test series against South Africa.

“His absence in this series also became an advantage for South Africa because he is an attacking player, plays in an attacking fashion as an opener as well. Whatever experience I have and whatever cricket I have played, I feel the captaincy should be given to Rohit only,”