Replace Virat with Ajinkya Rahane? An unfair debate
While the country is still basking in the glory of Team India’s stunning series win over Australia, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant captaincy has triggered comparisons between him and the usual captain Virat Kohli. Some want the latter replace
It appears like a repeated story — one where, after a smashing win, fans, experts and critics rush in to place a player on a pedestal but the first scent of loss, and (s)he’s flung crashing down.
As has been the trend, now there’s a clamour to dump Virat Kohli, assuredly India’s most successful test captain, from his current position, and to replace him with Ajinkya. While many might consider this unfair, the articulated voices for replacing Virat with Ajinkya include that of none other than former cricketers such as Bishan Singh Bedi, Monty Panesar and Michael Vaughan. They are clear in their stand that it’s time Ajinkya is given the reins to the Test captaincy.
THE UNFAIR JUDGES
Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha believes it is unfair to judge Virat’s captaincy skills and pass the baton on to Ajinkya yet. He points out the need to understand that leadership is not a one-series wonder and that it is Virat who laid the foundation for the process.
“It’s great that
Let us not forget that it is Virat, coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharath Arun who set up this process over the last few years. Just because Virat failed in one test match, you cannot take away the hard work he has put in for the last five years
— PRAGYAN OHJA, former India cricketer
I don’t think it is fair to rejig the entire set up just because a player has performed brilliantly as a captain in one series. It is Virat who has taken the team to where it is now, and this is as a result of hard work over a period and not overnight
— ARUN LAL, former India batsman
Many feel that Virat can contribute more as a batsman than as a captain. Remember when Dhoni was ageing and everyone thought that Virat was the right successor? Now, with Virat already into sixth year of captaincy, there’s nothing wrong in debating about his successor and the transition
— VIMAL KUMAR, cricket analyst and author
we got many good leaders in one group, including Virat, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya, but let us not forget that it is Virat, coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharath Arun who set up this process over the last few years. Just because Virat failed in one test match, you cannot take away the hard work he has put in for the last five years,” argues the former left-arm spinner.
Pragyan even reminds us that Ajinkya wasn’t given the reins to the captaincy overnight and that everything went according to the plan of the team management.
“Every cricketer has good and bad days, and it is okay. One player cannot always win matches for the country. After all, it’s the team management, not the selectors, who decide the leadership,” adds Pragyan. Former India batsman and commentator Arun Lal agrees with Pragyan’s points. Seconding his opinion, the former cricketer says that he is personally not in favour of endorsing Ajinkya as captain. “Every captain is different in his own right. I don’t think it is fair to rejig the entire set up just because a player has performed brilliantly as a captain in one series,” he says, adding that there’s no right way to captaining. “It is Virat who has taken the team to where it is now, and this is as a result of hard work over a period and not overnight.”
GLORIOUS UNCERTAINTIES OF THE GAME
A captain is understandably only as good or bad as other players in the team, but there is an argument that luck plays a vital role in a captain’s decisions. If a captain’s decisions pay off, he is contended to be a great leader, but if he fails, he is criticised for his choice.
According to former cricketer PR Man Singh, captaincy is something that has to be in one’s stride, recalling the case of former India cricketer Ajit Wadekar.
“Ajit was hailed as a great captain in 1971 against West Indies and England. But when the team was all out for 42 in 1974 he was called ‘stupid’,” recounts Man Singh, adding that sometimes even good players have bad days.
Recalling that Pataudi wouldn’t have been a captain back in 1962 hadn’t Narry Contractor been injured, Man Singh also stresses that one player cannot win matches all the time.
“So it is incidental that Virat was injured and Ajinkya took over. All these are glorious uncertainties of cricket,” Man Singh expresses.
VALIDITY OF THE SUCCESSOR DEBATE
Readers might remember that the Indian team’s performance was severely criticised by fans, critics and ex-cricketers after their loss in the first test match at
MSK Prasad, former India cricketer and former Chief Selector, vehemently dismisses the idea of having separate leadership for various teams. In fact, he believes there’s even no need to discuss it
Adelaide. So it’s ironic that after the series win, a debate between Virat versus Ajinkya refuses to die down. However, cricket analyst and author Vimal Kumar remarks that we can always question the timing of the debate but not the merit of it. Reminding us that Virat hasn’t achieved anything in his five years of captaincy and has in fact lost in Australia, South Africa and England, Vimal points out that Ajinkya has led the side to victory in his very first test series.
“Many feel that Virat can contribute more as a batsman than as a captain. Remember when Dhoni was ageing and everyone thought that Virat was the right successor? Now, with Virat already into sixth year of captaincy, there’s nothing wrong in debating about his successor and the transition. But can the selectors take such a bold decision?” asks Vimal, while putting forth a proposal of having a split captaincy for Tests and ODIs.
However, MSK Prasad, former India cricketer and former Chief Selector, vehemently dismisses the idea of having separate leadership for various teams. In fact, he believes there’s even no need to discuss it. “I don’t think people should think about it (split captaincy) at least for the next six months or so,” Prasad opines.
According to him, Indian cricket is heading in the right direction at least when it comes to Test cricket. “Everyone was worried about how India’s Test cricket is going to be heading, but Gen Next took on the responsibility and showed that it’s in safe hands. Debates can happen, but the fact remains that Virat is the one who revived the Test cricket format,” adds Prasad in conclusion.