KL Rahul should not have captained India in the second test, according to Wasim Jaffer.

When asked if he was shocked by KL Rahul being named India captain for the second Test in Johannesburg, former India opening batter Wasim Jaffer stated, “I was startled.”

KL Rahul took charge of India for the first time in the second Test match in Johannesburg against South Africa. However, he was unable to commemorate the event with a victory, as India fell to the Proteas by seven wickets. Virat Kohli, the team’s regular captain, was unable to participate in the second Test due to an upper back spasm, therefore Rahul was asked to step in and lead the side. Wasim Jaffer, a former opening batsman for India, believes that Ajinkya Rahane should have been given the opportunity to lead the team.

When the team for the current tour was announced, the management chose to remove Rahane’s vice-captaincy and give it to Rohit Sharma.

As a result of Rohit being out with a knee injury, Rahul has been selected to lead India in the second Test against England.

Despite Rahane’s unblemished record as captain of India’s Test team, Jaffer was astonished by the team’s decision.

“The management’s decision startled me. Is it really necessary to hand the Test captaincy to KL Rahul when you have someone as capable as Ajinkya Rahane, who has never lost a test as captain and has led you to victory in an Australian Test series?” InsideSport spoke with Jaffer.

“KL Rahul is fine with me. He is a rising star who has led the Punjab Kings to victory. Many people see him as a potential captain in the future. Nevertheless, I believe that in the absence of Kohli, Rahane should have been in charge of the team “he went on to say.

Jaffer had this to say about Kohli’s absence: “Virat Kohli, India’s captain, brings so much aggression to the field that his absence was felt. So, they were deprived of that vitality.”

The third Test, starting on January 11 in Cape Town, is expected to see Kohli return to the playing XI.