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Former India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim has questioned the appointment of the senior batter Ajinkya Rahane as the vice-captain of the Test team ahead of the premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. He believes that Jadeja not being considered for the leadership role is quite shocking as he is a regular member of the playing XI across all three formats.
On June 23, 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series and three-match ODIs against the West Indies.
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Surprisingly, Ajinkya Rahane was appointed as the deputy of Rohit Sharma, and Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the team. Notably, Rahane was dropped from India’s squad after the South Africa tour in 2022 due to his poor performance for an extended period of time.
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The 35-year-old Chennai Super Kings star was recalled to the team for the marquee World Test Championship Final against Australia after several key batters were unavailable for the game due to their respective injuries.
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Although India lost the final of the World Test Championship against Pat Cummins & Co., Rahane impressed with his batting in both innings. In the first innings, he scored brilliant 89 runs when India were in trouble, and in the second innings, he scored good 46 runs. The selectors found his knocks in the high-profile game good enough and named him as the vice-captain of the Test team once again.
He’s equally capable of leading the national side – Saba Karim on Ravindra Jadeja
In an interview with Sportskeeda, Saba Karim said that Ravindra Jadeja is irreplaceable in India’s playing XI across all three formats and has the capability to lead the side.
“I don’t know why people don’t even talk about Ravindra Jadeja. He’s a regular in all formats for the Indian side when he has had major contributions in India’s test success also. So how come he’s never spoken about as a leader? He’s irreplaceable in all three formats for the national side and he’s equally capable of leading the national side.
“Or if not him then maybe Shubman Gill if the Indian selectors thought that he is the future. I am just saying, there are some candidates,” Karim said.
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Saba Karim further said that the BCCI selectors handing over the vice-captaincy role to Rahane is quite strange as on one hand, they are looking at the future by including the youngsters – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad – in the squad and on the other hand they have appointed a senior player the deputy of Rohit Sharma instead of grooming a youngster for the leadership role.
“Even that is equally strange. When you’re looking at transition, when you pick youngsters like Yashavi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, then why would you make Ajinkya Rahane as the vice-captain? What is the logic behind it? He made a comeback after being dropped from the Test side. He played one Test match. He did well, that is perfectly fine.”
“But if you’re looking for the future, if you want to build a side, if you want to groom a cricketer, then why would you go back to Ajinkya Rahane? I mean, with due respect to him and his capabilities as a leader, we need to look at grooming a youngster who could have taken over from Rohit Sharma in times to come.”
Meanwhile, the first Test between India and West Indies will be played at Windsor Park in Dominica from July 12 to 16 and the second Test will be hosted by the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad from July 20 to 24.
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