BCCI plans to start tour with Boxing Day Test
NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma’s evolution in the Indian team’s leadership group could reach another milestone with him being named the vice-captain of the Test team from the South Africa tour later this month.
TOI understands that the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has agreed to start the upcoming tour of South Africa with the Boxing Day (December 26) Test instead of on December 17. The nine-day delay is for monitoring the situation in the Rainbow nation following the emergence of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus.
The management and selectors have been having intense discussions on making Rohit the deputy in Tests, given incumbent Ajinkya Rahane’s run of poor form.
Rohit is seen as a key member of the leadership group across formats ever since he has been appointed full-time T20I captain. According to sources, Rohit had a big say in the selection of the Test team for the ongoing home series against New Zealand.
“The selection meeting will happen in a few days. It is likely that Rohit will be made the vice-captain of the Test team. The Indian team is committed to travel to South Africa. However, the tour will not go on as per schedule. BCCI has communicated to Cricket South Africa (CSA) that it could start the tour with the Boxing Day Test,” a top BCCI official said.
It’s likely that a Test will be cut from the itinerary now. The logistics are being reworked but the players who were rested for the New Zealand series have reached Mumbai to start the quarantine on Friday. Whether they need to start the hard quarantine right away is still to be decided. However, coach Rahul Dravid wants to have a few training sessions in India with Rohit, Bumrah, Pant, Shami and Shardul Thakur before leaving.
“The tour will be curtailed. The travel plans are being worked out. It’s unlikely the team will leave on December 8. As of now, it looks like the two boards will have to compromise and agree to play two Tests instead of the initially planned three. Maybe a T20I could also be reduced,” the official added.
