Should India have retained Ajinkya Rahane as Test captain vs England?

[Firebat]

The Indian squad for the Tests vs England has been announced, and as expected Kohli has returned as the captain. But is that the right decision?

Rahane's record as captain in Tests:

Matches: 5
Won: 4
Drawn: 1
Lost: 0

Rahane was left to pick up the pieces of one of the most humiliating defeats in Indian history when Kohli left after that 1st Test. He had a half-fit team, battered and bruised, full of debutants by the end.

He's now flying out of Australia with an historic series victory.

Did he deserve to retain the captaincy into this series vs England? Vote and discuss...

 

[Bhaijaan]

I can't understand how and why a lot of the fans are acting so naive and delusional.

This is Virat Kohli's team.

He comes back and gets what is rightfully his team to command.

Anyone else suggesting a captaincy change just doesn't understand how things work.

Rahane might not even be playing for India if he struggles to keep up with the batting talent around him for like 3-4 more tests. That's how volatile his place has always been in the side.

 

[Ab Fan]

Nope. Virat comes back and gets to lead the team.

 

[happydavy]

I don't like Kohli as captain as the noise and arrogance doesn't commensurate with the limited accomplishments. However, Rahane can't be the captain as there is no proof that he's as good a captain as his 2-0 record in this series may indicate, plus i don't know if his ordinary batting form deserves a permanent slot in the team. This was a victory of newcomers, of people like Washington, Pant, Siraj, Shardul, Natarajan, Saini etc. not really some captain's victory. So many of them had such ordinary lives pre-cricket that this victory is a salute to their resilience.
- Siraj's dad was a rickshaw driver
- Saini used to play for Rs. 250 per match and was abused in his first class match by the administration of his own state team and is playing cricket only and only because of Gautam Gambhir
- Shardul was laughed off by his friends of Palghar because he was obese and wasn't talented enough
- Natarajan didn't have money to buy sports shoes a few years back
- Washington is deaf in one ear and his name is in honor of a gentleman who used to give money and food to his dad as he was very poor to buy on his own

Let's not mistake it as Kohli's or Rahane's victory, this is a victory of these chaps who rose from dirt poor to come this far.

 

[Oxfordchamp]

Stupid thread. OP should understand teams are not built overnight..this took 5 years in the making..Even though Virat was not present physically, he deserves every credit..Shastri said the same thing yesterday..just watch Shastri and Rahane interview from yesterday..

 

[Ab Fan]

Nope. Virat comes back and gets to lead the team.

Having said that, it is a fact that under Virat's leadership, this team has underachieved. They also lost the only test of this series which was captained by VK. You make anyone captain and we would have still been equally dominant at home and win one game in every SENA tour.

<B>This series win after Adelaide loss is by far the greatest comeback of all-time</B>.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

No. It's his team. Rahane should score more before another youngster comes along!

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Feels.tbis India team has been the same since 2012/13
.

 

[Revolution]

One thing need to shout. with out kohli no confidence from our middle order batsman.

 

[shah_1]

BCCI is not an incompetent board like PCB. They don't change captains like that, they have a system in place

 

[MenInG]

Rahane for me should stay on - let Kohli be the best batsman he can be!

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Kohli will lead.

There are systems and processes to follow.

Can't just uproot captaincy and give it to Rahane especially when his place is not assured.

Even if it was, Kohli will lead.

With that being said, what a captain Rahane would be....damn.

 

[JaDed]

No but hope Kohli learns from this series and so does BCCI.. our plans in last 2 tests were amazing.. hopefully Kohli is man enough to see error in his strategies

 

[Saj]

Rahane lead very well in Australia.

Perhaps a wake-up call to Kohli that there are other leaders within the squad.

 

[Varun]

Feels.tbis India team has been the same since 2012/13
.

In 2012/13, when England toured us and beat us, our XI was:

Gambhir
Sehwag
Pujara
Tendulkar
Kohli
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Ashwin
Zaheer
Ishant
Ojha

Only 4 survivors.

 

[Aman]

Nope. Virat comes back and gets to lead the team.

India wouldn't have won this series with the resources they have if you replace Rahane as captain.

 

[Aman]

Rahane's calm and controlled aggression > Kohli's faux macho wannabe Aussie aggression.

It's kind of like comparing Kane to a poor man's imitation of McCullum.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

In 2012/13, when England toured us and beat us, our XI was:

Gambhir
Sehwag
Pujara
Tendulkar
Kohli
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Ashwin
Zaheer
Ishant
Ojha

Only 4 survivors.

What about since the 4-0 vs Aus in 2013?

I do recall Pujara, Rohit, Rahane, Kohli, Ishant, Jadeja, Shami all playing vs NZ in 2013/14. Can't remember before that

 

[susantcbnu]

I don't like Kohli as captain as the noise and arrogance doesn't commensurate with the limited accomplishments. However, Rahane can't be the captain as there is no proof that he's as good a captain as his 2-0 record in this series may indicate, plus i don't know if his ordinary batting form deserves a permanent slot in the team. This was a victory of newcomers, of people like Washington, Pant, Siraj, Shardul, Natarajan, Saini etc. not really some captain's victory. So many of them had such ordinary lives pre-cricket that this victory is a salute to their resilience.
- Siraj's dad was a rickshaw driver
- Saini used to play for Rs. 250 per match and was abused in his first class match by the administration of his own state team and is playing cricket only and only because of Gautam Gambhir
- Shardul was laughed off by his friends of Palghar because he was obese and wasn't talented enough
- Natarajan didn't have money to buy sports shoes a few years back
- Washington is deaf in one ear and his name is in honor of a gentleman who used to give money and food to his dad as he was very poor to buy on his own

Let's not mistake it as Kohli's or Rahane's victory, this is a victory of these chaps who rose from dirt poor to come this far.

Just two matches ago he scored a match winning century at MCG and you conveniently overlooked it becuase it does not fit your agenda.

 

[Hyperion66]

Stupid thread. OP should understand teams are not built overnight..this took 5 years in the making..Even though Virat was not present physically, he deserves every credit..Shastri said the same thing yesterday..just watch Shastri and Rahane interview from yesterday..

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

 

[Yk313]

The Indian squad for the Tests vs England has been announced, and as expected Kohli has returned as the captain. But is that the right decision?

Rahane's record as captain in Tests:

Matches: 5
Won: 4
Drawn: 1
Lost: 0

Rahane was left to pick up the pieces of one of the most humiliating defeats in Indian history when Kohli left after that 1st Test. He had a half-fit team, battered and bruised, full of debutants by the end.

He's now flying out of Australia with an historic series victory.

Did he deserve to retain the captaincy into this series vs England? Vote and discuss...

The stats you have used to imply Rahane’s fortitude as a leader carry as much weight as using 36 all out in the Adelaide Test to suggest AUS bowling will steamroll IND batting.

There is a time and a place for extrapolating.

 

[Yk313]

Having said that, it is a fact that under Virat's leadership, this team has underachieved. They also lost the only test of this series which was captained by VK. You make anyone captain and we would have still been equally dominant at home and win one game in every SENA tour.

<B>This series win after Adelaide loss is by far the greatest comeback of all-time</B>.

Not just captained but also had a full XI at his command for a good part of the match. Still, captaincy is not decided in such a whimsical manner.

 

[MenInG]

Questions will be asked and the pressure mounts on Kohli.