Tilak Varma may have earned one of the biggest promotions of his career, but the former India batsman Mohammad Kaif The youngster said there is no guarantee in the appointment of vice-captain in the current Indian squad.The 23-year-old left-hander was recently appointed as India’s new T20I vice-captain after a major leadership reshuffle despite the team winning the T20 World Cup earlier this year. In a major change, Suryakumar Yadav Stripped of captaincy and excluded from the team Shreyas Iyer Responsible. Axar Patel, who had been serving as vice-captain, also lost the position as the selectors switched to Tilak.While the appointment underlines the confidence the team management has in Tilak, Kraft believes the youngster cannot assume that the leadership position will guarantee him a permanent place in the team. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif noted that recent examples have proven that leadership roles provide little protection if performance declines.“Tilak Varma is the vice-captain, yes. But vice-captains have been sacked before. Being vice-captain does not mean that Tilak Varma’s place in the team is guaranteed. If Tilak starts thinking, ‘I am the vice-captain and my place is safe’, that is not how this Indian team operates at all. If he wants to continue playing, he has to maintain his form. Even if his form dips a little, he may be dropped. Axar Patel was the vice-captain before. You will remember it. He is no longer vice-captain. The team has now moved on to Tilak,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.Kraft’s comments come in the context of several recent selection decisions. Shubman GillDespite serving as the vice-captain of the Indian team in multiple T20I assignments, he eventually lost his place in that tournament and missed out on the T20 World Cup squad. Al-Aqsa’s leadership was also replaced after the latest reforms.According to Kraft, the current team management has created a culture where every player, regardless of reputation or design, must continue to deliver consistent performances to retain their spot.“So, no one’s place is guaranteed in this Indian team. Not even the captain’s place. There is no permanent vice-captain either. Everyone has to earn his place. Everyone has to perform in every game. This is a phase in Indian cricket where we have been Never seen that. That’s the mentality of the coach and the selectors now. Your place in the team is crucial every game and that’s why Tilak Varma might start in this team but his place in the XI is by no means guaranteed,” he added.
