Captaincy in Test cricket is a different ball game but Rohit Sharma will be confident after having scored aplenty during India’s tour of England last year, according to former India pacer Ajit Agarkar.
Rohit Sharma is all set to lead India for the first time in Test cricket when India take on Sri Lanka in the first of a 2-Test series in Mohali from Friday. Rohit was named as the Test captain after Virat Kohli quit from the role following India’s 2-1 defeat against South Africa in January.
While Rohit has established himself as one of the finest white-ball captains, it remains to be seen how well he will lead the team in whites. Until a couple of years ago, Rohit was unsure of his place in the Test side but ever since he began opening for India in 2019, Rohit has hit a purple patch in the longest format of the game.
Questions were asked of his overseas performances but Rohit answered his critics, hitting 368 runs in 4 Tests, including a hundred and 2 fifties.
“Firstly, it will be a huge honour for him. Yeah, he has led India for a few games in white-ball cricket, not just as full-time captain but before as well,” Agarkar told Star Sports.
“The one thing that will do him good is the series that he had in England. The batting would have given him a lot of faith. As a leader, you want to be one of the better players in the team so that you can demand things from other people.
“Plus, he has got the necessary experience in terms of captaincy.”
‘FAMILIAR CONDITIONS WILL HELP ROHIT’
Rohit has big boots to fill as Virat Kohli finished as one of the most successful Test captains in the history of the game and India’s rise as one of the powerful Test sides, home and away, is attributed to the former skipper’s leadership.
Agarkar believes the Test series against Sri Lanka in home conditions is a good way to begin as it will help the new skipper ease into his role.
“Test cricket will be a bit different but at least he is starting in India where the conditions are familiar. It’s a very strong squad that India has, I don’t think it will be a problem for him,” Agarkar added.
Notably, the first Test against Sri Lanka will also be Kohli’s 100th Test. The BCCI on Tuesday confirmed that 50 fans up to 50 percent capacity of the PCA Stadium in Mohali will be allowed. The 2nd Test of the 2-match series will be played in Bengaluru later this month.