Captaincy to Indian players comes too easy these days, says Ajit Agarkar

Mumbai: Ajinkya Rahane may have been ‘surprised’ after being appointed the Indian Cricket Team’s skipper for the tour of Zimbabwe. But after digesting the news, he has even laid down his ‘own set of ideas, and would like to adopt Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s calmness and Virat Kohli’s controlled aggression’ when he takes to the field donning the skipper’s hat on July 10.

However, the news of his appointment has not gone down well with former India bowler Ajit Agarkar, who expressed his astonishment after the selectors named Rahane as the skipper for the upcoming tour.

Read: Ajinkya Rahane, from the by-lanes of Dombivli to Team India's skipper

Rahane will be leading a fresh Indian squad as senior players are being rested in keeping with the key tour of Sri Lanka in August. During an interview with ‘ESPNCricinfo’, Agarkar seemed amused after Rahane was named the captain. He was dropped out of the squad for the last two ODIs in the recently concluded Bangladesh series because he was ‘not good enough to rotate strike’.

The 37-year-old said, “There is a lot of pride and honour attached to being named the captain of the country and when one gets it easily, it loses its importance.”

Read: 'I feel very happy for Ajinkya and wish him all the best,' says Sachin Tendulkar

Agarkar also said the role of the Indian captain comes too easy these days. However, the Mumbaikar backed Rahane. “He is a calm character, although he has not had a lot of experience as a captain, now he has a great opportunity to show what he can do tactically. We would have to wait and see how he reacts to this role,” Agarkar said in the interview.

Rahane has not had much experience leading a side and has led the Mumbai outfit once in a T20 match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and once in an ODI in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, in the domestic circuit.

Agarkar reckons Zimbabwe would not be the easiest team to beat after India has made “wholesome changes”.