Aakash Chopra Opens up on India Having 3 Captains for 3 Formats

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels India having three different captains for the three formats is a bit too much and believes two captains for three versions makes more sense. When Shubman Gill was handed over the Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, India now has three different leaders across all formats.

It has been reported that Gill could replace Axar Patel as India’s T20I vice-captain, as he could be part of the T20I team.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma recently led India to glory in the Champions Trophy, whereas Surayakumar Yadav took over the captaincy baton for T20Is after Rohit announced his T20I retirement after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“Shubman Gill in Test matches, Rohit Sharma in ODI,s and Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is, three formats and three captains. Is it right? Will there be any change in that? Will a captain be handed two formats? Will you start introducing Shubman Gill in T20s?” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“There could be a temptation. There are rumors as well. If that happens, will you make Shubman Gill the vice-captain instead of Axar in T20Is for continuity? This is going to be a slightly tricky one. I feel two captains are enough. Having three captains becomes a bit much,” he added.

The renowned commentator reckons there should be consistency in the leadership role, and cricket is not like football, where the captain’s role is limited.

“A captain has a massive role. There are many team sports where the captain’s role is limited. Football, for example, very limited role. It’s the manager who manages the game from outside. Cricket is not like that. Cricket is a very intuitive game. You cannot spoon-feed a captain there. In such a scenario, you want a little continuity,” he said.

The former Delhi cricketer feels having three captains in three formats can complicate things for the team.

“Generally, you have a Test captain and a separate white-ball captain. I can still understand two captains. However, three captains for three formats, then it complicates a few things because there will be an overlap somewhere or other in the three formats,” Chopra observed.

India will next take part in the Asia Cup.