Selectors name Ravichandran Ashwin as India's new vice-captain for Tests: Report

All five selectors unanimously picked R Ashwin as India's vice-captain.

New Delhi: While Virat Kohli has been excellent as India's captain in the Test format so far, Ravichandran Ashwin has also been playing the role of a leader when it comes to bowling department. The 30-year-old Chennai born offie hardly takes his foot off the gas and has been a consistent performer for the country off late.

With injury to vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, Selectors panel, headed by MSK Prasad, has reportedly decided to name Ashwin as Kohli's deputee.

All five selectors – MSK Prasad, Jatin Paranjape, Gagan Khoda, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh – have unanimously voted for the name of Ashwin to lead the side in Virat's absence.

As per a report in Deccan Chronicle, the selectors have already made BCCI aware of their choice and an official announcement could made made soon.

In the ongoing India vs England Test match, Ashwin went past Javagal Srinath’s tally of 236 wickets to become the seventh highest wicket-taker for India. In the process, he notched a 5-wicket haul (tallying 23 times) on the second day of the 4th Test. Only Anil Kumble (35) and Harbhajan Singh (25) have taken more such hauls.

Talking about the quickness in reaching 23 five-wicket hauls, only Sydney Barnes has been quicker than Ashwin with 27 Tests.