Jasprit Bumrah’s prospects of becoming India’s next Test captain have reportedly diminished due to concerns over his injury history and workload management. This situation parallels the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) earlier decision to overlook Hardik Pandya for T20I captaincy, citing similar fitness issues. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar highlighted that the BCCI’s preference is for a captain who is consistently available for selection, which may disadvantage Bumrah despite his leadership experience and on-field performance .
In light of these considerations, Shubman Gill has emerged as a strong candidate for the Test captaincy. At 25, Gill has demonstrated leadership qualities in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Gujarat Titans and is seen as a long-term prospect. However, some experts, including Ravichandran Ashwin, suggest that Gill might benefit from gaining more experience before taking on the Test captaincy role .
Another potential candidate is KL Rahul, who has been endorsed by Bangar for his proven performance, especially in overseas conditions. Rahul’s consistent presence in the playing XI and prior leadership experience make him a viable option for the role .
The BCCI is expected to announce the new Test captain ahead of the five-match home series against England, starting June 20, 2025.
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