‘Even vice-captains are left out’: ex-Indian cricketer’s stark warning to Tilak Varma | Cricket News
Tilak Varma may have earned one of the biggest promotions of his career, but the former India batsman Mohammad Kaif reminded the youngster that vice-captaincy comes without guarantees in the current set-up of the Indian team.The 23-year-old left-hander was recently named India’s new T20I vice-captain after a significant leadership reshuffle despite the T20 side’s World Cup triumph earlier this year. In a major change, Suryakumar Yadav he was stripped of the captaincy and left out of the team, with Shreyas Iyer take charge. Axar Patel, who had served as vice-captain, also lost the role as the selectors turned to Tilak.While the appointment underlines the faith that the team management has in Tilak, Kaif believes that the youngster cannot afford to assume that the leadership position will guarantee him a regular place in the side. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said recent examples prove that leadership roles offer little protection if performance declines.“Tilak Varma is the vice-captain, yes. But vice-captains have been dropped even before. Being vice-captain does not mean that Tilak Varma’s place in the team is guaranteed. If Tilak starts thinking: ‘I am the vice-captain, my place is secure’, that is not how this Indian team works. If he also wants to keep his form, keep fit. Axar Patel was the vice-captain before. You will remember that. He is no longer the vice-captain. The team has now shifted to Tilak,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.Kaif’s comments come in the backdrop of several recent selection decisions. Shubman Gilldespite serving as India’s vice-captain during several T20I assignments, he eventually lost his place in the format and was missing from the T20 World Cup squad. Axar, too, was replaced in the leadership group after the last review.According to Kaif, the current team management has created a culture where every player, regardless of reputation or designation, must continue to deliver consistent performances to retain their place.“So in this Indian team, no one’s place is guaranteed. Not even the captain. There is no permanent vice-captain either. Everyone has to earn their place. Everyone has to perform in every match. This is a phase in Indian cricket that we have never seen before. This is the mentality of the coaches and selectors now. The place in the XI is not guaranteed in the future,” he added.
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