NEWS
Follow UsFormer India skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes KL Rahul is a captaincy material and should be groomed as a future leader of the Indian cricket team.
Gavaskar made the comments after Virat Kohli announced that he would step down from T20 captaincy after the World Cup. Rohit Sharma is set to take over from Kohli.
"It's a good thing that the BCCI is looking ahead. It's important to think ahead," said Gavaskar on Sports Tak.
"If India are looking to groom a new captain, then KL Rahul can be looked at. He has performed well. Even now in England, his batting was very good. He has been performing well in IPL and 50-overs cricket as well at the international stage. He can be made vice-captain."
Rahul is currently the captain of Punjab Kings in the IPL.
"He has shown very impressive leadership qualities in the IPL. He hasn't let the burden of captaincy affect his batting. His name can be taken into consideration, added Gavaskar.
Meanwhile, former Indian national selector MSK Prasad was surprised by the timing of Kohli's decision but feels it will help him de-stress.
"It is a little surprising that the decision was announced before the T20 World Cup. But then, the stress he must be carrying due to the bubble life and moving on from one bubble to another (could have also impacted). It is clearly visible and that has impacted his mindset,” Prasad told Sportstar.
"Virat is someone who has scored 70 centuries (43 in ODIs and 27 in Tests) in a decade has achieved something unbelievable and has set high standards. Probably, the bubble life had an impact on his individual performance, and that would have perhaps made him take such a decision before the T20 World Cup. Maybe, he wanted to unburden himself by letting go of one format.
"This decision will de-stress him and unburden him a bit because he knows that he will be letting go of one of one format after the tournament and that will perhaps free him a bit in the mega event."
(With inputs from PTI)