Virat Kohli or KL Rahul? Revealed - Who will be India's vice-captain in IND vs WI ODIs
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India will miss some big stars in IND vs WI ODIs due to Asian Games 2026.
The upcoming ODI series of India against the West Indies is taking place at a crucial juncture for the Indian team in the build-up for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2027. The series will clash with Asian Games 2026, and as a result of the clash between two series, the selectors find themselves in a difficult position, where they have to manage two different teams.
India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who is also the vice-captain in ODIs, will miss the West Indies seriesm as he would be the captain of India in the Asian Games. With him not being available for the three ODIs, there will be issues regarding the midd-order batter and deputy to the captain, Shubman Gill
India have plenty of options for these spots, but the selectors would have to take into account the experience factor as well.
KL Rahul likely to be India’s vice-captain for IND vs WI ODIs – Reports
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As per Kushan Sarkar from PTI, in the absence of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul is one such candidate who can be picked up as vice-captain under Shubman Gill during the upcoming ODI series against West Indies. KL Rahul has earlier deputised for Gill as his vice-captain in Test matches. Also, he captained India in the ODIs against Soith Africa when both Gill and Iyer were out due to injuries.
Rahul is one such player who qualifies in this regard owing to his experience and leadership qualities. He has already been appointed as the vice-captain in the Test team, and he has also been included as a member of the leadership unit during the ODIs earlier.
His experience of playing in different conditions can be of great help to India as they prepare themselves for the 2027 World Cup.
Rishabh Pant vs Dhruv Jurel: Who will be India’s second wicketkeeper in the IND vs WI ODI series?
The other major selection discussion centres around the second wicketkeeper’s slot. Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel are understood to be the two options being considered, according to the PTI update.
The international exposure of Rishabh Pant makes him obviously ahead of the game, whereas Jurel has been consistently proving himself as a dependable wicketkeeper-batsman. Both of them have been included in India’s teams before, with Jurel being the replacement for Pant as a wicket-keeper batter in an ODI series because of Pant’s injury.
Apart from that, there is another interesting repercussion. If Pant doesn’t make the cut for the ODI team, it has been reported that he will be leading the Rest of India (ROI) team in the Irani Cup. And if Pant makes it to the West Indies series, then Jurel can become the ROI captain.
The West Indies ODIs could therefore involve more than just another three-match series. With the 2027 World Cup approaching, India’s decisions will provide major insight into the team management’s strategies ahead of a busy international calendar.
When did Rishabh Pant play his last ODI match for India?
Rishabh Pant’s last ODI appearance for India came during the Sri Lanka tour back in 2024.
Who is India’s vice-captain in Test cricket?
KL Rahul is India’s vice-captain in Test cricket.
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