World Cup 2023: KL Rahul appointed India vice-captain in place of Hardik Pandya

KL Rahul has been named as the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after injured Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the remainder of marquee tournament. Reports ETV Bharat's Sanjib Guha

Kolkata: After star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the remainder of the ICC World Cup 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hurriedly named pacer Prasidh Krishna as the replacement. But sans Pandya in the line-up, there was another vacancy that opened up - the slot of vice-captain.

It is learnt from BCCI sources that wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has been chosen as Rohit Sharma's deputy for the rest of India's ICC World Cup 2023 matches. "Even (pacer) Jasprit Bumrah's name was suggested as the vice-captain, but (KL) Rahul was preferred as he is donning the wicketkeeper's hat and (has) a better understanding of everything," a source told ETV Bharat on the condition of anonymity.

• Wishing #TeamIndia Vice-Captain - Hardik Pandya, a speedy recovery! 🤝
  
  See you back on the field very soon 🤗
  
  Prasidh Krishna will join the squad as a replacement 👏#TeamIndia | #CWC23 | #MenInBlue pic.twitter.com/D3SCt6XPB0

  — BCCI (@BCCI) November 4, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Wishing #TeamIndia Vice-Captain - Hardik Pandya, a speedy recovery! 🤝
  
  See you back on the field very soon 🤗
  
  Prasidh Krishna will join the squad as a replacement 👏#TeamIndia | #CWC23 | #MenInBlue pic.twitter.com/D3SCt6XPB0

  — BCCI (@BCCI) November 4, 2023

  ">

  Wishing #TeamIndia Vice-Captain - Hardik Pandya, a speedy recovery! 🤝
  
  See you back on the field very soon 🤗
  
  Prasidh Krishna will join the squad as a replacement 👏#TeamIndia | #CWC23 | #MenInBlue pic.twitter.com/D3SCt6XPB0

  — BCCI (@BCCI) November 4, 2023

It may be recalled that Jasprit Bumrah did the job of vice-captaincy in 2022 against England in the fifth Test (four Tests were played in 2021 but due to COVID-19 infections in the Indian team they had to return home keeping the Test series against England unfinished, they went back the next year to play the fifth Test held at Manchester).

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya's unavailability has been informed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is learned that Pandya was ruled out after a training session at the Bengaluru-based National Cricket Academy on Friday itself.

KL Rahul has been informed about the decision to appoint him as the vice-captain of the Men in Blue for the remainder of the ongoing ICC World Cup. By dint of his elevation, KL Rahul will now attend all the team meetings with the captain and the head coach.

India are on top of the World Cup table with an all-win record in the seven matches they have played so far. The Rohit Sharma-led team will take on second-placed South Africa at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday.