Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that he want Rishabh Pant to be the India’s next Test captain following the announcement of Virat Kohli say bids aidue to the role.
Kohli on Saturday announced his decision to step down from the captaincy, a day after losing the Test series to South Africa.
“For one reason only, just like Rohit Sharma was given the captaincy of Mumbai Indians when Ricky Ponting stepped down, look at the change in his batting after that. Suddenly the responsibility of being captain made him convert those beautiful cameos of the 30s, 40s, and 50s into hundreds, 150s, and 200s. I think that sense of responsibility given to Rishabh Pant will help him score many more of that wonderful hundred he scored at Newlands,” he told India Today.
Gavaskar further cited the example of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who achieved great success after taking over the captaincy at a very young age.
“Yes, I am saying that. Tiger Pataudi was captain at the age of 21 under adverse circumstances when Nari Contractor was injured. Look what he did after that. He took to captaincy like a duck to water. I think what we have seen with Rishabh Pant as the captain of Delhi Capitals in the IPL, I do believe he has the capability of taking Indian cricket forward and making it a very exciting team to watch,” he said.
India’s next Test assignment will be against Sri Lanka at home.
