Rohit Sharma's <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2024/12/30/australia-v-india-rohit-sharma-and-virat-kohli-near-exit-as-pat-cummins-stars-in-dramatic-melbourne-test-win/" target="_blank">abysmal performance</a> in the current Test series in Australia has sent Indian cricket into panic mode, with urgent calls being made to save the team from falling any further. What started as a promising series under the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2024/11/25/jasprit-bumrah-leads-the-way-as-india-thrash-australia-by-295-runs-in-perth-test/" target="_blank">captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah </a>has turned into a familiar capitulation under the leadership of Rohit. The signs were already there during the preceding Test series defeat against New Zealand in which poor selection and timid captaincy saw India suffer their <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2024/11/03/india-sink-to-new-low-after-3-0-test-series-defeat-to-new-zealand/" target="_blank">first ever whitewash at home</a>. That result not only ruined India's pristine record in Tests but also their chances of making it to the World Test Championship final. India were offered a glimpse into the future in the first Test in Perth where, under Bumrah, they registered one of their biggest wins on Australian soil. However, as soon as Rohit returned to the team following a break for personal reasons, the team fell back into old habits. The pink-ball Test was lost easily, while the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2024/12/15/australia-v-india-rohit-sharma-battling-to-save-gabba-test-and-captaincy-after-head-and-smith-hit-centuries/" target="_blank">weather rescued India </a>in the third Test in Brisbane. The Indians seemed on their way to saving the Melbourne Test as well but a horror final session saw the team lose by 184 runs. The writing is now on the wall for Rohit in Test cricket and the fifth Test in Sydney is almost certain to be his last. Here we take a look at the top candidates to take over from Rohit as India captain in the Test format. The fast bowler is in incredible form and it is shame he is likely to end up on the losing side after a remarkable series. Bumrah has single-handedly kept India in the contest in all four Tests with 30 wickets so far and his captaincy in the Perth win was top-class. His smart field placings, effective bowling changes and ability to marshal a young squad were poles apart from Rohit's poor leadership skills. Bumrah is expected to take over as soon as Rohit vacates his spot. However, the fast bowler is unlikely to be a long-term option as his workload has to be managed closely and he could miss a few series to extend his bowling career, which has already seen a major back injury. The wicketkeeper batsman is almost certain to play Tests home or away. Even in the current series where he has failed to score a fifty, Pant has only two low scores and has had good starts in five innings. Although it must be said his rash shot in Melbourne sparked a collapse, which saw India lose a Test there were all set to draw. Pant has leadership experience and could be asked to skipper the side whenever Bumrah, if made captain, is unavailable. Also, as a wicketkeeper captain, he won't be under pressure to deliver with the bat every innings, unlike Rohit or Virat Kohli, which could make leadership a bit easier. The middle-order-turned opening batsman seems at home in the Test format. Rahul's all-round game and stable technique makes him one of the few experienced Test specialists in the squad. His performance in tough conditions as an opener in Australia should serve him well in the next Test cycle and since he is only 32, Rahul can be expected to be a part of the Indian team for a number of years. Rahul has reinvented his game late in his career and, since he is not part of the T20 set-up, he can focus all his energies on Test cricket.