It’s not just fantasy cricket that makes you think about the sport, is it? There is plenty to concern yourself about. The issue of Indian Test captaincy is one such issue that has given fans plenty to think about in recent times. Following the exhilarating success in Australia, Indian cricket had reached a new high. And Virat Kohli wasn’t the sole architect behind that success. It was a team effort more than anything else.

But there have been a few hiccups since then. A stuttering Indian team lost the Test Championship final in England against New Zealand and then went on to lose the series in South Africa under the supervision of Kohli. That ripple effect saw Kohli give up the job he had held on to for 7 years. With Kohli’s resignation as the captain of the Indian Test team, the question that has naturally come to everyone’s mind is – who is going to replace him? While a number of names have been doing the rounds, fans all around will admit unanimously that the successor will have a difficult job in hand.

The job that Kohli went on to do with this team is hard to ignore. The right-hand batter rigorously went about building a strong pace attack once he realized that success away from home wouldn’t be possible without a good pace unit. Kohli even demanded sporting pitches at home so that his team could prepare better for foreign conditions.

Therefore, the one that eventually replaces the 33-year-old will have to be ready to fill in big shoes. Here we are going to take a look at a few potential names and they would fit the roles.

1. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is clearly the front-runner to take up the Test skipper’s role from Kohli. He has already been selected as the successor for the other two formats and could well be on his way to take up the role in the longest format. Sharma is a proven winner, having led the Mumbai team to the Indian T20 league glory on five occasions. The 34-year-old has found success at the international level too, enjoying a win percentage of 81 and 80 in T20 and ODIs respectively.

However, the Hitman has had his issues with injuries and has found consistency hard to come by when it comes to the longest format of the game. He has also been guilty of throwing his wicket away during tricky situations.

2. KL Rahul

Rahul has shouldered the responsibility of leading the side in the absence of Kohli in South Africa. While that was not an outing one would fondly remember as the Proteas managed to win the match by 7 wickets, Rahul showed that he is one that can learn. Having been a leader at the Indian T20 League level, Rahul has no qualms about taking risks at the highest level. He has been there long enough to know what is required for success and can mature as a skipper as time goes on.

One thing that might go against him is the fact that he hasn’t been a regular for India in Tests.

3. Rishabh Pant

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has come out to mention Pant’s name. Having emerged from the Under-19 format, Pant has led the Delhi team in the Indian T20 League and thus knows a bit or more about pressure. Still just 24, Pant is not shy of taking risks and could be a good choice for foreign conditions. Like Ashwin and Bumrah, Pant also is a vocal presence on the field and can warrant respect from his seniors too.

However, he has been inconsistent and some would say that he still has things to learn at the highest level.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin

A loving personality, Ashwin has fulfilled the skipper’s responsibility in the Indian T20 League. With over 10 years of experience in Test cricket, Ashwin knows the game better than anyone else and warrants respect among his peers. India has seen through Anil Kumble that a spinner can find success as a skipper and there is no reason why Ashwin cannot once more.

One of the facts that goes against him is that he is not a regular in the team, particularly in away conditions, and can therefore be a difficult one to opt for.

5. Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah’s name has quickly come up to the fore following his appointment as a deputy to KL Rahul in the second Test against South Africa. The 28-year-old seamer himself has spoken openly about his desire to take up the job. Bumrah is known to be a good man-manager and has often been seen voicing his opinion during crucial moments in a match. We have already seen Australia use Pat Cummins as their skipper and there is no reason why team India couldn’t do the same. Bumrah also has age on his side and would be a good choice for the future.

His issues with injury and the Indian board’s policy of resting bowlers as a part of workload management might play a crucial role when it comes to his appointment.

As the excitement surrounding the appointment of a new skipper reaches its peak, you should not keep yourself away from all the happenings in the cricket world. Download the Howzat fantasy cricket app and test your wits against real players from across the country. Live the excitement while sitting on your couch at home. Happy gaming!