What Next For 'Vice-Captain' Ajinkya Rahane?

One of the finest Indian batters, especially in overseas conditions, Ajinkya Rahane marked his Test return with a bang, scoring curcial runs for the national team in the World Test Championship final. Though India lost the title to Australia, Rahane's performances earned him a call-up for the West Indies tour, that too in the role of 'vice-captain', a designation he had lost roughly a year ago. But, with Rahane failing to fire in the two Tests against West Indies, questions arise on the selection committee's decision to hand him the team's vice-captaincy.

One of the veterans of the game, Rahane has done wonders for India whenever he has been asked to take up the leadership role. The manner in which Rahane led the team in 2019-20 Border-Gavaskar trophy, earned him plenty of plaudits.

But, since that campaign, it was all downhill for the right-handed batter. The BCCI selection committee's decision to hand him the team's vice-captaincy for the West Indies series wasn't a decision that was welcomed by all.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his astonishment at the decision, suggesting Ravindra Jadeja would've been a better choice for the role.

"I won't say it's a step backward. You have been out for 18 months, then you play a Test and you become a vice-captain. I don't understand the thought process behind it. There is Ravindra Jadeja, who has been there for a long time and a certainty in Test matches, he is a candidate," Ganguly had told PTI after the Test squad for the Caribbean tour was announced.

In the series, Rahane only scored 3 and 8 in the two innings (one in each Test), with the below-par show triggering a debate over his future in the team.

The fact that Rahane isn't just a member of the team but also