India’s Test team does not have a dedicated vice captain, and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar mentioned this fact. There is no formal deputy in the Test side despite Suryakumar Yadav captaining the T20 series and Rohit Sharma the One Dayers.
Jasprit Bumrah was the vice-captain for the previous Test series against England, among a host of other players. However, the BCCI disposed of the position, and this vice captain title, unlike Bumrah’s, was left undone for the Bangladesh series. And in charge is Shubman Gill since he is also the vice-captain in white-ball cricket.
The vice-captaincy issue in the Test team is no longer important after Abhishek Nayar, a key member of the Gautam Gambhir’s support staff, pointed out that most of the Test players including Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul captain their IPL teams.
“I think we need to understand that we have got a lot of IPL captains in this team. When you talk about the likes of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, hopefully a Yashasvi going forward. There are a lot of players who have led their franchises,” Abhishek Nayar told the media on the eve of the 2nd Test in Kanpur.
“I wouldn’t look at them as youngsters any more”- Abhishek Nayar
Abhishek Nayar went on to emphasize that the young players on the Indian team have demonstrated leadership abilities and have participated in a significant number of matches during their careers. The fact that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are around helps kids learn things much faster, he continued.
“I wouldn’t look at them as youngsters any more. Yes, they are youngsters in terms of age and the amount of cricket they have played. But, I think overall, mentally and in their development as a cricketer, I think they have the leadership qualities that are required. You don’t need to have a vice-captain that should be designated,” Abhishek Nayar said.
“I think overall, the thought process of these youngsters is of a senior player. It’s of someone who has played a lot of cricket. With the likes of Virat and Rohit in the dressing room, it speeds up that process where you are learning a lot faster on the go. I feel our future and all the youngsters are in great hands,” Abhishek Nayar added.
The second Test of the two-match series between the India National Cricket Team and the Bangladesh National Cricket Team is set to begin in Kanpur on September 27.
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