Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina feel this Indian cricketer should lead Indian team for South Africa series

The Indian T20 League is done and dusted and the Indian team are all set to shift their focus to International cricket now. With senior players having been rested for the upcoming series, the new Indian side feels significantly young. Even the captaincy role has been put on the young shoulders of KL Rahul. Although he has gained significant experience in captaining a franchise team, leading the international side is a bit new to him.

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Ex-players, namely Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan have expressed their opinions on the declaration of Rahul as the captain of the team. Raina believes that the Mangalore born cricketer has shown calmness and would be appropriate for a young team like this.

“He has looked very calm and composed as a captain in recent times and the players selected need a leader like KL Rahul. There is Kuldeep (Yadav) and Chahal, both will play together,” Raina told a reporter from News18.

Explaining further he said, “There are new fast bowlers – Umran Malik, the way he has bowled, and then Arshdeep. Both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik, whose performance has been very good in the IPL, will also be there. So, I feel his (Rahul’s) presence will bring calmness and the South African players are also good, so it will be a very good contest.”

Irfan Pathan has also expressed his approval of the decision and believes in the sanctity of the team management. “It is not that the earlier coaches have not done that, Ravi Shastri was there and Virat Kohli was captaining, but Dravid will take it one step ahead," said the cricketer turned commentator. The ex-left armer also believes that “KL Rahul would have been told that if he is the captain” and he is the “next in line”.

India begin their International cricket with a home T20 series against South Africa starting on June 9th in Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.