Rohit Sharma's Test Career Faces Uncertainty as BCCI Scans Long Term Leadership Strategy

As the Indian Premier League inches closer to the finishing line, the attention has begun shifting to international cricket again. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has now began strategizing the next Test series against England. This five-match series is likely to be extremely crucial for India not only for World Test Championship points but also for leadership choices that might determine the future of the team. Rohit Sharma has already stated that he wishes to keep playing Test cricket and desires to captain the team. However, reports indicate that the management has not decided yet whether he will continue to be captain for this important tour.

Rohit aged 38 now had a troublesome tour in Australia and even then there were discussions about his potential retirement. But he did not decide to resign or put out any statements. With the England tour impending soon many assume this could be his last assignment as captain in the longest form. Though no final decision has yet been taken and Rohit himself has not indicated any definite plans on what he will do next.

What makes the situation more interesting is a recent development which states that an experienced Indian cricketer volunteered to come in as Test captain in case of necessity. But according to sources this offer was rejected. The BCCI and the head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selection panel are purportedly keen on having a long-term captaincy strategy instead of a short-term or temporary solution. They do not desire someone who will be their captain for a short while but rather someone who can be their consistent Test captain in the coming years and aid in the development of a solid setup. The concept of a stop-gap captain does not appear to resonate with the vision of the present team administration.

Shubman Gill has been one of the most debated names in these terms. Already, he has been appointed as vice-captain in both ODIs and T20Is. There has been speculation regarding his being provided the vice-captain job in the Test side as well for the tour of England. This would be one step ahead toward making him a future captain. But Gill has not been so consistent with the bat in Test cricket particularly in foreign conditions. Of his 1893 Test runs, only 649 have come abroad. That is how much he still has to prove in challenging foreign conditions such as those in England.

Gill is currently batting at number three for India in Tests a slot previously occupied by Cheteshwar Pujara. But his batting with the bat has been patchy in this pivotal role. For him to be considered a contender for leadership at all he needs to bat better and be more consistent. This England series would be a stiff test for him not only as a batsman but also for a person who might have the leadership onus in the foreseeable future.

Sources further added that team coach Gautam Gambhir doesn't want to make temporary leadership changes for the sake of the tour. He wishes to emphasize continuity and long-term planning. With a new World Test Championship cycle beginning the team management feels that it is essential to have a settled captain who will be along for the ride for years to come. Gambhir allegedly wishes to have a core set of players for a long duration which implies that selecting a player for only one tour would contradict that notion.

The previous two Test series have not been too great for India and the coming England tour is viewed as an opportunity to realign the team's trajectory in red-ball cricket. It is evident that the BCCI is attempting to look ahead and not merely deal with the here and now. Although Rohit Sharma is still keen to captain the team there is no certainty that he will be captain for this crucial series. The choice will most probably be based on what the selectors and coaches believe is in the best interests of the future of Indian Test cricket.

The leadership debate has been the topic of much conversation among fans and pundits. If Rohit remains or is replaced by someone like Shubman Gill or some new name is found, the spotlight will always be on future success. India wishes to establish a team which not only excels in the current time but also becomes more powerful in the times to come. This England Test series might be the prelude to that new era.