The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday named KL Rahul as Virat Kohli’s deputy for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Reacting to Rahul’s appointment, former cricketer Aakash Chopra highlighted that veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane might find it difficult to find a place in the playing XI.
Rahul was appointed as India’s vice-captain following Rohit Sharma’s injury. Rahane had been replaced as India’s full-time Test vice-captain by Rohit earlier this month.
From being a captain in the first Test against New Zealand to struggling for a place in the playing XI, Aakash Chopra highlighted that things are changing quickly in Indian cricket.
“KL Rahul has been appointed as India’s Test vice-captain (for the South Africa series as Rohit Sharma is injured. Rahul Dravid is the coach, Rohit is the captain of white-ball formats. I think Rahul may be appointed vice-captain in ODIs also…. Ajinkya Rahane might find it difficult to find a place in the XI. He was captain just a couple of Test matches ago but right now he’s not even the vice-captain. Things are changing in Indian cricket,” Chopra said in a video shared on Koo.
Incidentally, Ajinkya Rahane has been under the spotlight for his below-par performances in recent times. His average in the 16 Test matches that he has played in the last two years is only 24.39 with only one hundred – in Melbourne against Australia – and two fifties.
Shreyas Iyer will be pushing Rahane for a place in the Test side after a stunning debut against New Zealand.
India are slated to play three Tests and as many ODIs on the South Africa tour.
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