Will Sachin Tendulkar be India's next captain? That is the question everyone is now asking. Tendulkar's acceptance of the vice-captaincy seemed to signify a change in his earlier stand that he didn't want the responsibility of the captaincy.
And, at the moment, there is every indication that he could well be appointed skipper again in the third week of April, when the Indian selectors are expected to meet and announce the squad for the tour of Bangladesh.
"We will depend on direction from the BCCI after their meeting ends this weekend," a selector told HT. "It is unlikely that a junior player will take over (as reported in some sections). Given the current scenario, it would be too much of a hot potato for him," he added.
Another selector said that it would also depend on "how Rahul Dravid comes off" at the meeting (he will also make a report to the BCCI Working Committee) and what Chappell and manager Sanjay Jagdale's reports on India's World Cup debacle will say.
If Chappell is held responsible by the BCCI for many of the ills that befell India, then Dravid, who captained for most of Chappell's tenure, would be expected to share the blame — even if he did distance himself from many of the coach's views over the past few months, as reported.
{{/usCountry}}If Chappell is held responsible by the BCCI for many of the ills that befell India, then Dravid, who captained for most of Chappell's tenure, would be expected to share the blame — even if he did distance himself from many of the coach's views over the past few months, as reported.
{{/usCountry}}But a lot might also depend on whether Dravid, under pressure for some time now both about India's performance and the problems within the team, will want to continue as skipper.