How can Ajinkya Rahane become India's next test captain? Wasim Jaffer explains

Ajinkya Rahane earned vice-captaincy role of Indian test team following his performance in WTC final against Australia.

Ajinkya Rahane made an impact in the Indian Premier League 2023 and came back to the Indian team after being dropped for a year. Ajinkya Rahane was picked for the World Test Championship final, which took place right after the IPL 2023. However, Rahane failed to impress against Australia in the World Test Championships and in the West Indies tour.

Ajinkya Rahane managed only 3 and 8 runs in the ongoing test series against West Indies. Despite his failure, Wasim Jaffer feels that can even become the captain of the Indian team if he works on his consistency.

Speaking during a media interaction organized by Jio Cinema, Wasim Jaffer expressed his concerns over Rahane's form and said that if he works on the same, he can emerge as a captaincy option.

"Rahane will have to show consistency in his game, which has been his problem even though he has played 80-90 Tests (84). Consistency has been an issue, he will have to overcome it because India has a good captaincy option in him after Rohit Sharma is done. Rahane will have to make runs, and then everything else will follow," he said.

In 2022, Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the Indian side because of his inconsistency. Jaffer mentioned that Rahane still has age and can make an impact. He also expressed how the Indian batter had missed opportunities because of a poor run of form.

"If his form was great from that Australia series after that 36 all-out, the way he led, scored a hundred in Melbourne… had his form remained the same, he would have been the next Test captain. But he lost his form and got dropped. However, he reinvented himself in the IPL and got a chance in the WTC final. He was appointed the vice-captain as well because the Indian selectors see a good leader in him. He still has age on his side but he needs to score runs, if he does not then he will find it difficult," he said.

"I feel it will be difficult": Jaffer about Pujara's return

Wasim Jaffer feels that it will be difficult for Cheteshwar Pujara to get into the Indian team. He also mentioned that the Indian selectors would prefer youngsters for the upcoming WTC cycle.

"As far as Pujara is concerned, I feel it will be a little difficult going forward," Jaffer said. "You also have to start looking at the new boys for the next World Test Championship cycle. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant will come back. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been successful. (Shubman) Gill will play in all three formats. I feel it will be difficult for Pujara to make a comeback," he concluded.