‘Feels A Bit Strange..’, KL Rahul On India's Captaincy Rotation Ahead Of SA ODIs
KL Rahul in September 2023 (BCCI)
KL Rahul is set to take over the leadership role for Team India in their forthcoming three-match ODI challenge against hosts South Africa. The series marks his return to competitive cricket after he had distanced himself from the team's T20I fixtures against Australia and South Africa following the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup.
In the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma and his deputy Hardik Pandya, the leadership reigns for the T20Is were handed over to Suryakumar Yadav.
Rahul's return has once again changed the hierarchy of power within the Indian team, as has been a trend in the 'Men in Blue' camp for the past year. As it turns out, the senior batsman does not seem to mind the constant rotation of captains, considering he is focused on the immediate task at hand.
KL Rahul addresses rotational captaincy
A day before India's first ODI match against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium, stand-in skipper KL Rahul implied that he is not surprised by seeing a different captain in every series because modern day's jam-packed international schedule does not allow every player to be available for all formats at all times.
He added that such captaincy and players' rotations also give concerned individuals an opportunity to play their best possible cricket in their given opportunities. While speaking with the reporters during a pre-match press conference, he said:
“Yeah, it feels a bit strange, but that's how the game is going. The schedule is such that not every player can be available for every format. Unfortunately, the coach also has a bigger responsibility, the Test series. Having said that, This gives some players the opportunity to take up that responsibility and try to play their best cricket.”
Rahul was sidelined from India's preceding T20I squad, where the 'Men in Blue' levelled the series under Suryakumar Yadav's leadership.
The 31-year-old is lined up to lead India in ODIs and turn up in the subsequent Test series under comeback man Rohit Sharma's captaincy.
The first ODI is set to be played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on December 17, and the series will conclude on December 21 in Paarl's Boland Park.
 "Aakash Saini")
