KL Rahul embraces captaincy role in Gill's absence
Having led India in 12 ODIs, three Tests and one T20I prior to this, KL Rahul is all set to lead in the 50-over games against South Africa.
With Shubman Gill still recovering from a neck injury sustained during the first Test against South Africa and ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer nursing an injury since the ODI series against Australia last month, India were on the lookout for a new captain to hold the fort until Gill returns to full fitness.
KL Rahul was chosen to take the reins for the three-match ODI series against South Africa, a decision which he was informed of, at the very last moment.
"Just a day before the announcement, I was told that the opportunity might come and I might have to lead (India)," he said on the eve of the first ODI in Ranchi.
He spoke on his excitement to lead India and his approach to captaincy.
“I have captained the side before. It is something that is very exciting. I look forward to enjoying that responsibility. I have always enjoyed responsibility, making the right decisions for the team. That's about it. I don't think too much about it.”
From being an opener in the Test format, KL Rahul has adapted to the role of a finisher in the middle order for India in the ODI setup, a role that he played in their Champions Trophy win earlier this year and the recent ODI series Down Under, which India lost 1-2.
Every KL Rahul Boundary | Champions Trophy 2025
Every KL Rahul Boundary | Champions Trophy 2025
The 33-year-old most recently led India in an ODI series against the Proteas in 2023, and won the series 2-1, becoming the second captain after Virat Kohli to secure an ODI series victory away against South Africa.
The stand-in skipper stressed that India’s senior core remains central to the team's decision-making, with leadership shared across experienced players aided by the return of stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as India build up towards the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
"I obviously have Rohit [Sharma], Virat [Kohli], Jaddu [Ravindra Jadeja], all the senior players around me who will help out,"
"How we have all played our cricket is to think of it as we are all leaders and we try and do the best for the team. That continues whether I am captain or someone else is captain.”
Rahul also stressed that the team is always looking to work towards the same goal in a unified manner.
“It is always a collective effort to doing something in the direction of a bigger goal."
India’s ODI fixtures against South Africa:
First ODI: November 30, Ranchi, 1:30 PM
Second ODI: December 3, New Raipur, 1:30 PM
Third ODI: December 6, Visakhapatnam, 1:30 PM
(All times are in IST)**
