Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his weight behind Jasprit Bumrah as the ideal candidate to lead India’s Test team, emphasising the pace spearhead’s ability to manage his own workload.Â
Gavaskar argued that Bumrah’s self-awareness as India’s premier bowler makes him the best choice to navigate the demanding role of captaincy, especially with a crucial five-match Test series in England looming in June 2025.Â
The endorsement comes amid speculation over India’s leadership transition following Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket.
Also read: When Will Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Play Together For India Again?
Sunil Gavaskar Wants Jasprit Bumrah to Lead India in Test Format
Gavaskar highlighted Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to balance his role as India’s premier fast-bowler with leadership demands.Â
"Who better to know what is the workload for himself than himself? If you appoint somebody else, they would always want an extra over from Bumrah. If he is your No. 1 bowler, he will himself know that 'yes, this is the time I must take a break'. To me, it has to be Jasprit Bumrah only. I know all these kind of speculation going around his workload and all that. Give it to him so that he knows how many overs to bowl, when to take him off, when to sort of rest. That would be the best thing," Gavaskar said as quoted.
The 75-year-old batting icon also dismissed concerns about Bumrah’s fitness for the England series, pointing out the gaps between the matches in series’ schedule.
"He (Bumrah) may not have to miss a Test match. If you give it him, he might know when to stop before his body starts to crumble. For me, give it to him. After the first Test, there is an eight-day gap. There's enough time to recover. Then, there are two back-to-back Test matches. That's fine. There's then another gap. If you give him the captaincy, he will be the best person to know when to bowl," he added.
Reports suggest Bumrah has opted out of the captaincy race, citing workload management.
He led India in the first and last Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, guiding the team to their only win in the series. However, his injury history, including recurring back issues, has raised workload concerns.Â
Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant Likely to Form Leadership Duo in New EraÂ
Reports suggest that Shubman Gill is the front-runner to assume the Test captaincy, with Rishabh Pant likely to be named vice-captain.
With the BCCI expected to confirm the captaincy soon, Gill and Pant’s potential partnership would give rise to a bold new era for Indian Test cricket. Despite Gavaskar’s compelling case for Bumrah, the pacer’s reported decision to prioritise fitness may pave the way for a younger leadership duo to steer India through a defining phase.
