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'A Missed Opportunity' - Sunil Gavaskar On Ajinkya Rahane's Elevation to Test Vice-Captaincy

image-ljddm8hnKohli alongside Rahane during WTC Final 2023 (AP Photo)

The legendary cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar believes that the Indian think-tank missed an opportunity by not grooming a younger player for the Test vice-captaincy post. India's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series in the Caribbean islands was recently announced, where Ajinkya Rahane was selected as the new vice-captain.

The decision came as a surprise to all given the fact that Rahane only recently made a comeback to the Test team last month during the World Test Championship final.

However, Gavaskar believes while there is nothing wrong in appointing Rahane vice-captain, he reckoned that the think-tank should have used this opportunity to blood in a youngster in the leadership group.

''There is nothing wrong in having him [Ajinkya Rahane] as the vice-captain, but a missed opportunity to groom a young player. At least, tell a young player that we are looking at you as a future captain. So, he starts to think as a future leader," Gavaskar said on Sports Today.

When asked about the potential vice-captaincy pics, Gavaskar went to name Shubman Gill, Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan.

"One is Shubman Gill and the other is Axar Patel [as future captains] because Axar comes in leaps and bounds, he just gets better every match. Giving him the responsibility as vice-captain will make them think. So, these are the two candidates in my view. If there are others, somebody like Ishan Kishan, once he cements his place in the team. He can come in the reckoning as well," he added.

India will begin their Caribbean sojourn with the two-match series, which begins in Dominica from June 12.