- No sooner the Indian Cricket team convincingly beat the Australian Cricket team in the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) under the stewardship of standby captain Ajinkya Rahane in the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli (on paternity leave), the debate as to who should be leading the side henceforth has been trolling on the social media big time. Expectedly, the remarkable turnaround witnessed after the ignominious mauling at Adelaide where Team India was skittled out for a paltry 36 in the second innings, the talk of the town is who should captain the Test team from now on.
PC: GREG BAUM
- As cricket fans are aware of threadbare, regular skipper Virat Kohli is an extremely aggressive individual who wears passion, intensity, in your face, and no-holds-barred approach while leading the team. Never one to back down or show subdued body language even in the face of challenging situations on the field, Virat Kohli summarizes the new Team India which does not shy away from returning the barb and/or sledding forthcoming from the opposition team. There is any number of instances witnessed during a match when the intensity of Kohli has lifted the sagging spirits of the team to fashion inspiring turnarounds and improbable wins.
- Never say die attitude has served him as well as Team India ever since Kohli took over the reins from MS Dhoni. 14 Test series won out of the 18 played under Kohli amply demonstrates the success the team has enjoyed so far under his stewardship. On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane exhibits a contrasting demeanor of calm and composure during trying situations on the field appearing not that aggressive. Nonetheless, exudes assurance as well as being under control without having to resort to outwardly loud expressions. However, do not mistake the reassuringly calmer body language as less aggressive as Rahane is equally belligerent in applying tactical skillsets.
PC: Kunal Dhyani
- Rahane’s smart field placements, shrewd bowling changes, persisting with the bowler for longer spells, and allowing bowlers to plan on their own establishes superb strategic acumen as well as thorough understanding/ability to read the game intuitively. He has admirably stepped into the shoes of the regular skipper by showcasing tremendous game sense in reversing the adversarial trends by imaginative leadership skills. Nevertheless, there should not be any question and/or talks about Rahane taking over the reins from Kohli when the latter is scheduled to return for the England series scheduled in the coming days.
- Make no mistake, does not warrant any change now. Of course, Team India should feel blessed with the availability of both contrasting but effective leaders and look forward to combining these traits to strengthen the group’s as well as the nation’s interest in the future. Both brands of leadership should complement one another thereby ensuring the bonding of the team stays stronger. Therefore, any talks of leadership change are not only premature but also uncalled for.
