'Kohli and Rohit have retired, now Rahul should take up that responsibility'; former Indian cricketer opens up

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra said that vice-captain KL Rahul has a crucial role to play in India's Test team during this period of transition. With senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having retired from Test cricket, Chopra said Rahul must become the leader of the batting unit. Speaking to JioHotstar ahead of India's one-off Test against Afghanistan on June 6, Chopra described this as the most important phase of Rahul's Test career.

“Right now, Rahul is enjoying the golden period of his Test career. He has been part of the team for a long time and has proven his ability in Test cricket, including on overseas tours. He is one of India's best opening batters. However, he now has an even bigger responsibility,” Chopra said.

“With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, it is essential for an experienced player like Rahul to lead from the front in the batting lineup. His challenge is not just to score runs but also to maintain consistency. He has already scored plenty of runs, but the key now is to sustain that form and perform consistently over a long period.”

Chopra also pointed out that there is currently no intense competition for the opening spot in India's Test side, unlike in ODI cricket. He added that this makes Rahul's position in the team even stronger.