India’s Bold Move: No Vice-Captain Named for Bangladesh Test Series

India’s announcement of the absence of a vice-captain for the four-match series against Bangladesh had created a buzz among fans and analysts have been guessing the probable strata present in the management of the Indian Test team, concerning the Bangladesh series. This is because; a vice-captain is most of the time only relevant when the captain is present but unable to lead and instead the vice-captain is expected to carry out the duties of the captain. The selectors, however, disregarded the need for that post in this series and did not name any player to take up that position. One wonders who exactly will take the team’s command in the event Rohit Sharma gets injured or if he is unavailable in the course of the second Test match or any stage of the match.

Leadership Strength in the Indian Team

There is leadership within the Indian unit even though there is no vice-captain. In the Indian setup, there is leadership even in the absence of a vice-captain. Several members of the team are either ex-captains or have played leadership roles in other tournaments such as the Indian Premier League (IPL). For instance, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, all captain their distinct teams in the IPL. The fact that this leadership exists is also one of the reasons as to why India managed to win the series without a properly recognized second in command even though it was obvious no player was going to be appointed for that position.

Jasprit Bumrah, who stood as vice-captain during the previous series against England earlier this year, has not been given the same role for this series. Abhishek Nayar, who is part of India’s coaching staff as an assistant coach, highlighted that the squad has a lot of experienced leaders and that many players can assume that position whenever necessary. Judging by the present disposition of the team, they seem not to see the need for having a vice-captain, considering that there are leaders in the team.

Potential Leaders in the Absence of Rohit Sharma

In case of the unavailability of Rohit Sharma, it will be somebody senior more likely than not who will take over the reigns. Though an official announcement has yet to be made, players such as Rishabh Pant or Shubman Gill may be required to lead the pack. Both of them have proved their leadership abilities and have been ready for bigger duties in the time to come. Beyond their roles as captains in the IPL, these players have traveled extensively enough to the international arena to handle the team well.

This adaptive nature of leadership in India allows the herding of the younger z leadership as well. The other reason for not appointing a vice-captain is that the management feels that the senior players are capable of shouldering leadership responsibilities whenever required.

Effects of Pitch and Conditions On Selection

In addition to the leadership aspects, the team combination for the second Test match against Bangladesh remains subject to some alterations. The conditions on the pitch and whether the sun is shining or the clouds are determining the match will play a great role in determining the playing XI. India’s game plan in Kanpur the venue for the second Test match, will depend on the state of the pitch on the match day morning.

Kanpur has been associated with good cricketing pitches over benches but the bounce and pace of the surface is still a mystery until the match day. The weather patterns, for instance, come into play with overcast conditions and will dictate the extent to which the team will field within a pace or spin majority.

Watch Live Cricket for Free on Winexch

For fans who are looking forward to the action, there are sites such as Winexch that allow one to watch live cricket for free of charge. The forthcoming Test series is expected to be a fierce contest, and with no vice-captain appointed, the Indian dressing room will be keenly watched. The on and off-the-field call shots will also depend on how deep the leadership hierarchy is, something one expects in a team under the tutelage of the ‘godfather of cricket.’

FAQ

• What was the reason behind not designating a vice-captain for the Test series against Bangladesh? 

There was no need to name a vice-captain as the team management believed that there were many leaders in the team and many of the players had put on captain rankings before.

• Who will assume the captaincy for India in case Rohit Sharma is unable to play due to an injury?

If Rohit Sharma is unable to play, the leadership will likely fall to Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, or some other senior player.

• In what manner team’s leadership structure function in the absence of a vice-captain?

The Indian team does not feel the need for rancid designations as a vice-captain as members have had their fair share of captaincy experience in the IPL and internationally at this time.

• What are the other considerations that will impact the selection of India’s team for the second Test? 

The pitch and weather on the day of the match will provide a basis for the combination of players where pace or spin will sit on the surface.

• Where can I catch the Live India Bangladesh Test series?

There are free platforms such as Winexch which show free live cricket streams and make sure to update the series live so that you can watch for free.