Newly-appointed assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said Team India doesn’t need a designated vice-captain in Test cricket, adding the learning process of young players has been speeding up, thanks to the Indian Premier League and the presence of senior players in the team. Nayar said the Test team has young players like Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill who have the experience of leading teams in the IPL and that the future of the side in the traditional format looks good.
While Rohit Sharma has continued to lead the Test team, India did not announce a vice-captain for the two-match series against Bangladesh. Jasprit Bumrah was Rohit’s deputy during a five-Test series against England at home earlier in 2024. Shubman Gill was appointed vice-captain in the limited-overs formats — both ODIs and T20Is — after the T20 World Cup in June.
“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.
‘THEY HAVE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES’
The former India all-rounder, who has been playing a crucial role in the development of young cricketers in IPL franchises, said the likes of Gill and Pant have evolved into mentally strong and mature cricketers despite being in the early stages of their careers.
“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.
“I think overall, the thought process of these youngsters if of a senior player. It’s of someone who has played a lot of cricket. With the likes of Virat, Rohit in the dressing room, it speedens that process where you are learning a lot faster on the go. I feel our future and all the youngsters are in great hands,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah is one of the frontrunners to be India’s next Test captain. The fast bowler led India in a Test match in England when Rohit was unavailable due to injury. Rishabh Pant has led India in limited-overs, but the team management is unlikely to put the burden of captaincy on the wicketkeeper-batter, who has been looking to return to his peak after a long injury layoff. Gill has been earmarked for captaincy in the future, considering his elevation to vice-captaincy in limited-overs cricket.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Nayar remained coy about the team combination, saying the pitch in Green Park, Kanpur, will be good for both batters and bowlers.
India are 1-0 ahead in the two-match series. The second Test will get underway on Friday, September 27.
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