'Leadership is about character': R Ashwin cites Australian method for selecting captain

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 15, 2025, 18:38 IST

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Indian cricket faces a transition as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's Test retirements mark a new era. Selectors are tasked with rebuilding the team, potentially starting with Shubman Gill in the upcoming England series. Ravichandran Ashwin emphasizes the importance of character in leadership, suggesting a thorough evaluation process for selecting the next captain, similar to the Australian method.

'Leadership is about character': R Ashwin cites Australian method for selecting captain

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 27: Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates the wicket of Rohit Sharma of India during day two of the Men's Fourth Test Match in the series between Australia and India at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Indian cricket will enter an uncertain new era next week when selectors name a Test squad without all-time greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the first time in more than a decade.Batting great Kohli and captain Rohit both retired from Tests in the past week. The retirement last year of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leaves India without the backbone of the side that was formerly number one in the world Test rankings.

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TimesofIndia.com has earlier reported that top-order batsman Shubman Gill is the favourite to be given the task of starting India's rebuild with the five-Test England series, which begins on June 20 at Headingley.

Amidst all this speculation, Ashwin has said "leadership is all about character" and he has cited the Australian method of selecting a captain.

India's probable Test squad for England Tour

"The Australian way is that the captain has to be a certainty in the first XI," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel "Ash Ki Baat.""In Australia, a captain has to give a presentation. They pick two or three candidates and ask them to present their case. What is your vision? What will be your team's direction? Who will be the players you will be backing? What is the meaning of leadership for you?"They ask such questions before selecting a captain.

Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket after 14 years

"You have to understand that a captain, a coach, and a selector can make or break careers. It has happened in the past, and it will happen in the future because the captain will be the one who takes the playing XI to the park. He has a huge responsibility on him."For that, you need to have an interview to pick the right person for the job.Who's that IPL player?"No selector, no captain, no coach has intrinsic knowledge of a player's character. Leadership is about character. I believe, be it Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, or Ravindra Jadeja, you can't decide who is leadership material and who is not unless and until you have asked that individual."I know this is not going to happen. I don't know whether Australia runs this process to pick their captain," he said.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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