Jasprit Bumrah was a leading contender for India’s Test captaincy, but the selectors ultimately chose Shubman Gill. Here’s why.
India’s Test team is currently undergoing a transition following the retirement of several seniors. While R Ashwin called time on his career in the middle of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli decided to hang up their boots as well. Especially with Rohit’s retirement, a captaincy vacuum emerged ahead of the five-match Test series against England.
India began their Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign under Bumrah’s captaincy in Rohit’s absence, winning the opener. Though Rohit returned for the second Test after the birth of his second child, a string of poor scores prompted him to drop himself with India trailing 1-2. Bumrah resumed leadership for the decisive final Test.
While Bumrah was initially presumed to be Rohit’s successor, Gill, widely regarded as India’s next batting icon, was also in contention. The selectors opted for Gill, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar citing him as a long-term investment. Agarkar clarified that Bumrah’s workload would be managed, implying he may not feature in all five Tests.
Bumrah explains why India picked Gill over him as Test captain
Speaking for the first time since Gill’s appointment as Test captain, Bumrah addressed speculation about him not being considered for the role. He revealed that he had personally requested the BCCI not to consider him for permanent Test captaincy.
"There' no fancy stories to it. There is no controversy or no headlining statements like 'I was sacked' or 'I was not looked after'," Bumrah said in an interview with Sky Sports.
"Before Rohit and Virat retired, during the IPL, I had spoken to the BCCI. I had discussed about my workloads going foward in a five Test match series. I've spoken to the people who have managed my back, I've spoken to the surgeon as well, who's always spoken to me about how smart you have to be about the workloads. So I did speak to him and then we came to the conclusion that I have to be a little more smart.
"So then I called up BCCI and said that I don't want to be looked at in a leadership role because I won't be able to play all Test matches in a five-Test match series."
'BCCI was looking at me for leadership'
In a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah virtually carried his team with a herculean bowling display, taking 32 wickets at an average of 13.06. He was forced to leave the field on the second day of the fifth Test, with scans later confirming a back injury, ruling him out for the remaining Test match and the 2025 Champions Trophy. While he became the first bowler to claim 200 Test wickets with a sub-20 average, this milestone didn’t come easily as his career has been repeatedly disrupted by injuries.
Bumrah stated that he prioritised continuity and a long-term solution for India’s Test captaincy, which led him to decline the offer for the team’s benefit.
"Yes, the BCCI was looking at me at (for) leadership, but then I had to say no, that it's not fair for the team as well, that in a five-Test match series, three matches somebody else is leading, two matches somebody else is leading, it's not fair on the team. And I always wanted to put the team first.
"Even if me being there as a player offers a lot more, just not as a captain. Captaincy is a post, but you always have leaders in the team. And I wanted to do that.
"If I'm not careful, I don't want to be in a situation where abruptly, I have to go away from this format. So I just thought that for continuity, and it is only fair on the team, that you know, the team goes in that direction where they look at long-term and I could help in whatever way I can.
"But yeah, captaincy meant a lot. I had worked very hard for it. But unfortunately, sometimes you have to look after the bigger picture. I love cricket more than captaincy. So I want to contribute more as a cricketer and to the Indian team as a player. Obviously, ambitions are there, but that's how it is but I called the BCCI and said I don't want to be looked at in a leadership role."
Bumrah’s first stride with Test captaincy came in 2022 when India returned to play the final match of the England series 1-2 ahead, with Rohit unavailable due to COVID-19. So far, he has led India in three Tests, with one win to his name.
