Bishan Singh Bedi calls Virat Kohli 'mediocre' captain after Rahane and co. beat Australia

India's stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane led India to a historic Test series win in Australia in absence of regular captain Virat Kohli, who was on paternity leave. After getting shot out for 36 within an hour on Day 3 at Adelaide Oval in first Test of series, Rahane lifted up spirits of a broken and injury-marred Indian side to outperform Australia on ir home turf in next three Tests. In process of doing so, Team India captain also breached Australia’s ‘Fortress’ which remained a burial ground for visitors from vember 1988 up until India's historic win on feared turf. 

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Bishan Singh Bedi heaps praise on Ajinkya Rahane, asks Virat Kohli to hand over captaincy and focus on batting

Rahane's astute leadership garnered widespread praise with a number of former cricketers, as well as, fans demanding Mumbai-based cricketer to take over reins of Indian Test team from Kohli. Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi, recently in his column for Indian Express, advised Kohli to step down from India's Test captaincy and hand it over to Rahane. According to Bedi, by doing so, Kohli can focus on his batting as any potential failure in his captaincy, which could end up affecting his individual performance.

Bedi furr wrote that ar ticklish thought that pops up in his mind is wher India need Virat Kohli great batsman or Virat Kohli  'mediocre' captain in long run. Indian veteran reckoned that destiny has provided BCCI with an instant option and added that Rahane can lead in Tests while Kohli and Rohit Sharma can share duties in ODIs and T20Is respectively.

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Bedi opined that Kohli can offer to make an hourable way for Rahane to take over during India vs England 2021 series at home. He assured that  bad blood would be caused when y ensure that larger picture on canvas is Indian cricket. Subsequently, Bedi went on to heap praise on Rahane's leadership and also said that 32-year old's captaincy reminds him of one of India's greatest captains, late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

Bedi wrote that he is floored with way Rahane conjured magic from broken bodies around him. former Indian bowler reckoned that way Rahane handled his meagre resources reminds him of Tiger Pataudi, who was woefully short of a well-rounded unit but his leadership alone gave Indian cricket fresh legs throughout his captaincy tenure . Bedi furr said that it was Pataudi who defined an ‘Indianness’ in country's cricket and added that legendary captain infused in m a thrilling sense of being toger in this ride.

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Bedi revealed that he observed Rahane pretty closely on India vs Australia tour. According to Bedi, hallmark of any captain is his ability to handle bowling resources and way Rahane mand his bowlers in Australia has made Indian veteran his fan. Bedi reiterated that three Tests is good eugh time to assess a captain’s bowling changes and fielding placements. Bedi added that he tried hard but couldn’t find a single Rahane move which could be questioned by armchair critics like him.

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SOURCE: PTI/ ICC TWITTER