Reports suggested that Jasprit Bumrah was a strong contender for the India captaincy, but recurring injuries pushed him out of contention.
Bumrah Overlooked Again as Captaincy Race Tilts Toward Gill
When Rohit Sharma was appointed India’s Test captain three years ago, Jasprit Bumrah was seen as a strong future contender for the role. His leadership credentials were reinforced when he captained India in the rescheduled Birmingham Test against England in 2022, and again in November 2024, when he led India to their only win on a dismal tour of Australia.
Following India’s loss in the Border-Gavaskar series, speculation about Rohit’s Test future intensified, and Jasprit emerged as a leading candidate for the captaincy. However, after Rohit officially retired from Tests on May 7, Shubman Gill quickly became the frontrunner, with reports suggesting he had the backing of the BCCI.
Despite Bumrah’s strong case, persistent injury concerns reportedly hurt his chances. This shift in narrative drew sharp criticism from former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who questioned the selectors’ consistency. He criticized the Ajit Agarkar-led panel for naming Jasprit vice-captain during the Australia tour while not considering him as a serious candidate for the top job.
I am shocked that we are looking at any other option other than Bumrah as Test captain! Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice captain carefully.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 13, 2025
Jasprit also has Gavaskar, Ashwin’s backing
It’s not just Sanjay Manjrekar who has championed Jasprit as India’s next Test captain—cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Ravichandran Ashwin have also voiced strong support for the pacer. As the debate intensifies over who should succeed Rohit Sharma, the consensus among these veterans is clear: Jasprit deserves the role.
Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, highlighted Jasprit seniority and leadership potential ahead of India’s upcoming England tour. “The team that will tour England will be a completely new, transformed team where Bumrah will probably be the senior-most player,” Ashwin noted. “He is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will make a decision based on his physical capacity.”
Sunil Gavaskar, in conversation with Sports Today, dismissed concerns over Jasprit injury history and workload. He argued that being captain would actually help Bumrah manage his body better. “Jasprit Bumrah for me… if you appoint somebody else, they will always want an extra over from Bumrah because he’s your number one bowler,” Gavaskar said. “But Bumrah being the captain himself would know when to take a break. He can control how many overs to bowl and when to rest.”
As the BCCI weighs its decision, the growing chorus of support from India’s most respected cricketing voices adds further momentum to Bumrah’s candidacy for the Test captaincy.
