Team Inda has started practicing a little bit and the captain Virat Kohli was also seen in a jovial mood and enjoying the training sessions in South Africa. And, the former India selector, Saba Karim feels that he has left the controversies behind and is all set to perform.

However, Virat Kohli has cleared his stance regarding the recent controversies in the pre-departure press conference. While talking about that, Saba Karim said that Virat Kohli is having a merry time there as well. He said during a discussion on India News:

“It seems a burden has been removed from Virat Kohli’s head. He can play with an open mind now, he can revive his Test career afresh. The expectation is that he will dish out performances like he was doing two years back. If he bats with an open mind and approach, he can repeat those performances. I have full belief that the form he has shown in the practice sessions, the same form will be seen in the match as well.”

However, Virat Kohli has a great record in Tests in South Africa where he has amassed 558 runs in five matches which came at an excellent average of 55.80, including two centuries, with a top score of 153 as well. On the other hand, Team India have never won a Test series in South Africa. And, this time they will try to break the shackle as well.

He again added:

“It is a huge challenge on multiple fronts for the Indian team. We have never seen split captaincy before this. This is the first time India is going into the ground with this new approach – Rohit Sharma white-ball captain, Virat Kohli red-ball captain. It will take some time for the players to understand this.”

“Along with that, there will be a huge responsibility on Virat Kohli and the team management, especially Rahul Dravid, on how they take the team forward. There are a lot of challenges but with the amount of maturity and experience this team has, I believe that India will come out of this phase with flying colors,” Saba Karim shared.

“It is the right choice and the timing is perfect” – Saba Karim on KL Rahul being appointed vice-captain

Meanwhile, Saba Karim is happy with the selectors’ decision to appoint KL Rahul as Team India’s vice-captain for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. He also believes the timing is right as well.

However, it came as the newly-appointed Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury. Saba Karim said:

“According to me, it is the right choice and the timing is perfect. This is right because a lot of times, the selectors talk to the team management, what sort of feedback is coming from there, what is going on in their mind about who can prove to be a capable leader in the future and then only the decision is taken.”

Karim continued:

“It is good that the selectors have taken their time and then made the announcement that KL Rahul will be the vice-captain in the upcoming series. I feel captain Virat Kohli would also believe that in Rohit Sharma’s absence. KL Rahul is a player who can captain in the future. He has done fantastic captaincy in the IPL for the Punjab Kings, his performances have been good and KL Rahul is currently a multi-format player.”

However, apart from KL Rahul, the selectors might have chosen Ravichandran Ashwin or Jasprit Bumrah also. While Ashwin has led the Punjab Kings in the IPL, Bumrah does not have any leadership experience so far.

KL Rahul being made the vice-captain is a very good selection – Reetinder Sodhi

Meanwhile, Reetinder Singh Sodhi also echoed the same as Saba Karim on KL Rahul’s appointment as vice-captain of India’s Test team.

“KL Rahul being made the vice-captain is a very good selection. He is an all-format player and in terrific form. He is captaincy material, he can captain for a long time. For now he is the vice-captain, so he is in line to become captain of Team India someday,” he concluded. 

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