Former Indian cricketer, Mohammed Kaif, feels that Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, is the only candidate who deserves to be the Test captain after Rohit Sharma. The current Indian captain is at the fag end of his career and might retire from the format after the end of this WTC cycle.
Pant has been a match winner in the longest format of the game with his aggressive batting display and standing up under pressure. He has been mighty consistent right from the time that he made his debut and has a century in all the SENA countries. Pant has won matches for his team from difficult positions and has been back in form in red ball cricket right from the time that he made his comeback from injury.
“From the current team only Rishabh Pant is the contention to be Test captain. He’s worthy of it, whenever he’s played, he’s put the Indian team in front. Whichever number he comes to play, he’s ready to play a match-winning knock. He’s scored in all types of conditions be it England, Australia or South Africa. Be it seaming to turning tracks, he’s a complete batter,” said Kaif on his Instagram live.
Rishabh Pant has been consistent in red ball cricket
Although, India got whitewashed 3-0 at home against New Zealand in the Test series, Pant stood out yet again on difficult wickets and scored 261 runs in six innings.
Kaif feels that Pant will retire as a Test cricket legend when he plays his last game. The wicketkeeper has also made improvements in his keeping and till he was at the crease during the series, New Zealand did not have it easy for them.
Right now, Jasprit Bumrah, is the designated vice-captain of the side in Test cricket and is set to take over from Sharma. However, given that Bumrah does not play all the matches and his workload needs to be looked after, Pant is the obvious choice for the future Test captaincy role.
