Rohit Sharma is front-runner to lead India in Tests – Shane Warne

Australia’s former legendary spinner Shane Warne reckons Rohit Sharma is the front-runner to lead India in Test cricket and feels it is sad that Virat Kohli has decided to quit Test captaincy.

Kohli surprisingly decided to relinquish his Test captaincy duties after India lost the three-match Test series against South Africa by 2-1.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has been named as India’s new white-ball captain and has a lot of experience under his belt. Rohit has impressed whenever he had led the national team in the absence of Virat Kohli. Furthermore, Rohit has an impeccable record in the IPL as he has led Mumbai Indians to five titles.

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has also impressed with his skills as a Test opener and has done a fine job in all conditions for the Indian team. Rohit had scored 368 runs in four Test matches against England in 2021 and he was the team’s top run-getter on the tour.

“I was not surprised with Virat’s decision because being the captain of India has so much pressure and expectation. Virat is such an inspiration to so many people, he is an inspirational leader and I am sad to see him resign as captain and step down. He is still playing Test cricket and he still believes that it is the number one form of the game,” Warne told news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that KL Rahul could be given the Test captaincy reins. The former leg-spinner feels Ajinkya Rahane could have been one of the prospects to lead India but he isn’t in the best of forms and his place in the team is questionable.

Warne said: “Rohit has done a good job in shorter formats, so he will be the favorite to lead the side. KL Rahul could do it, I would love to say Rahane, but he has lost form. If Rahane is in form or he finds that form again, then he can do it. He is a very good captain. India is lucky to have so many options but I think Rohit will get the captaincy.”

Warne doesn’t want Rishabh Pant to be India’s new Test skipper as he believes wicket-keepers don’t make great captains in the red-ball version. The renowned commentators feel Jasprit Bumrah could also one be of the options.

“I do not believe a wicketkeeper (Rishabh Pant) should be a captain, I believe a wicketkeeper makes a good deputy, a good vice-captain. Looking at the Indian side, Jasprit Bumrah can make a good captain, Rohit Sharma can make a good captain,” Warne further said.

India will next face West Indies in the limited-overs series.