'It is really baffling' -Twitter confused as Cheteshwar Pujara named as India's vice captain for Bangladesh Tests

Cheteshwar Pujara (Source: Twitter)

India have not had a good start in the ODIs after the 20-20 World Cup in Australia. They lost to New Zealand 1-0 and then suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. The Men in Blue will want to make amends for the poor start that they have had.

They have a two-match Test series against Bangladesh and will want to win both fixtures in a bid to cement their place in the final of the World Test Championship table.

The Indian Cricket Board announced India’s updated Test squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma will miss the opening Test due to a thumb injury. He has been replaced by Abhimanyu Easwaran in the first Test. However, the change that raised eyebrows was in the leadership role.

KL Rahul, who was previously named as vice-captain of the side, has taken up the reins of leading the side while Cheteshwar Pujara has been named vice-captain. The decision to appoint Pujara as the vice-captain has come out as a bolt from the blue for all the Indian cricket fans.

When Rohit assumed all-format captaincy for India, the message from the selectors was that they were looking at a few other options such as KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah was named as Rohit’s deputy when India hosted Sri Lanka in March. Pujara was dropped for that series. In the England tour, Pant was named as vice-captain, Rohit was injured and Bumrah was asked to lead.

Pujara had returned to the XI for the final Test against England, which was rescheduled. The fans were under the impression that Pant will be the vice-captain for the Bangladesh Tour. But this sudden call by the selectors in picking Pujara has baffled the fans.

India's Test squad against Bangladesh

KL Rahul (C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat.

Twitter was abuzz, let us take a look at the reactions on the same:

surely some issue with R Pant some thing has surely happened..He travelled to Ban then sent home without telling about injury and is now fit to play...some discipline issue it might be

— Mukesh Pant (@Mukesh__Pant) December 11, 2022

Yes.. Really unpredictable things coming out from this management nowadays..So if KL misses out somehow, another new name to lead India in this so called New Era 😁.

Seems true news @khelgyani_abhi .

— Vicky (@CAVickyzz) December 11, 2022

Interesting to see that Cheteshwar Pujara has been named the vice-captain for India's first Test against Bangladesh. In Rohit and Rahul's absence during the last Test in England in July, Rishabh Pant was Jasprit Bumrah's deputy.

— Lalith Kalidas (@lal__kal) December 11, 2022

the list of unexplained goes longer as Cheteshwar Pujara is made vice-captain. Has this appointment been made by Chetan Sharma, Rahul Dravid, or the party?

— Amit (@nottheamit) December 11, 2022

Why is Cheteshwar pujara the vice captain of the side? Is Rishabh pant unavailable? @BCCI#INDvBAN #INDvsBAN #BANvIND #TeamIndia #Indiancricketteam #ViratKohli #KLRahul

— Abhijith N S (@Abhijithshet7) December 11, 2022

Sri Lanka tour of India 2022 March (Pujara Dropped)
Rohit Sharma Captain
Jasprit Bumrah VC

India tour of ENG 2022 July
Jasprit Bumrah Captain
Rishabh Pant VC

India tour of Bangladesh 2022
KL Rahul Captain
Cheteshwar Pujara VC

Thank you Rahul Dravid Sir for such stability🙂

— Rudraksh Singhal (@Rudrsinghal) December 11, 2022

Whatever..unnecessary. agar Pant was identified to be one who isnt like a leader then they should have given it to Iyer.

Pujara was supposed to be transitioned out of the team and is now VC.

Chetan and bold calls dont go hand in hand as Kushan da said.

— Abhinandan Nahata (@khelgyani_abhi) December 11, 2022

Now when I think of it, it really baffles me why he was taken off as the VC. Pujara was there in Eng but Pant was VC, now Pujara. I thought they preferred experience but it looks like that's not the case.

— Pranav Nair (@leg_gully) December 11, 2022

The problem is not with KL being the captain. (I prefer pant to be the captain, since KL doesn’t have it to be the aggressive captain, he chokes under pressure as a batsman, I don’t have any hope him leading. LSG he lost the semi by statpadding). Pujara VC is a joke! 😂

— bhuvy.eth (@BhuvyEth) December 11, 2022