Gautam Gambhir bats for Rohit Sharma to lead India across formats

Former batter Gautam Gambhir reckons India should have just one captain across formats and that should be Rohit Sharma. Rohit took over as T20I captain after the T20 World Cup and then replaced Virat Kohli as the team's ODI captain as well. Rohit has failed to recover from his injury, paving way for KL Rahul to lead the team in the ODI series against South Africa.

Kohli resigned as India's Test captain on Saturday (January 15) and the BCCI is yet to announce his successor.

"In my book Rohit Sharma should lead India across all formats with Rahul as his deputy. One captain across formats will ensure consistency in style and approach of the Indian team especially considering that we have another T20 World Cup later this year," Gambhir wrote in his column for TOI.

Kohli is India's most successful captain having won 40 of the 68 Tests he led. "Between the last Test and ODI series, the news space has been hogged by Virat resigning from Test captaincy. I think it is an individual's call and that is how it should be treated. I think Virat left the Indian Test team in good health but I can't say the same about white-ball cricket.

"Our bowling resources in Test matches are a neighbour's envy and owner's pride. They have shown time and again that they are the engine room for a team's performance. In limited-overs cricket, I'd have liked to see a more settled middle-order, which Virat could not create," Gambhir added.

Speaking of the team selection for the South Africa ODIs, Gambhir hopes Shikhar Dhawan translate his good social media form into good performances with the bat.

"Trust me, it's an absolute delight, all notes are in proper place just like a perfectly struck left-hander's cover drive with the bat finishing on his right shoulder. How good it will be to see him translate his social media form on the playing field.

"It is a grand opportunity for him in South Africa. I am not a great believer in age and all that. His critics are saying that at 36, Indian cricket should look beyond Shikhar. My worry is lack of runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. I hope he can put it all behind him and put his best foot forward. 

"There is a school of thought that Shikhar should not be played in the final eleven. I think that will be a disaster. Why would you take Shikhar to South Africa and then leave him on the bench? It will make no sense at all," Gambhir opined.

Gambhir has also called for the inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal in the XI, further adding that he is keen to see how fast bowler Prasidh Krishna goes. "After KL Rahul, Shikhar and Virat Kohli, India should continue to play Surya Kumar Yadav at No. 4, Shreyas Iyer at No. 5, Rishabh Pant at 6. I am extremely inclined to use the experience of R Ashwin in my bowling department with Chahal being the other spinner. 

Fast bowling duties need to be performed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna and Jasprit Bumrah. I'd be keen to see how Prasidh goes on the bouncy tracks of South Africa. He has conditions in his favour, let's see if he can translate promise into performance," Gambhir said.

India kick start the ODI series against South Africa from January 19 in Paarl, where they will play the first two matches before playing the third and final match of the tour in Cape Town on January 23.