New Test cricket captain for India?

Trust the grapevine and rumour mills to be working overtime as the IPL 2025 edition reaches a climax. With a 100 per cent clarity still not there on which four teams will make the Playoffs, the time has come for playing ‘captaincy game’ on who will lead India during the Test series in England this summer.

Just to jog the reader’s memory, when Rohit Sharma was captain for the BGT Series in Australia, he missed the first Test due to paternity leave. As deputy, Jasprit Bumrah was full of flair and feel. The way he rattled the Aussie batters was defining, before he broke down in the Sydney Test. Many said, Bumrah had been over-bowled. Blame for that should go not to just captain Rohit but also coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gambhir was also facing tense moments. If the coach thinks winning the Champions Trophy is redemption, not true. The IPL season is on and so many players are there to view. Gambhir treated fast bowler Prasidh Krishna as a wastrel in Australia. The same fast bowler has been extremely impressive in the IPL, while turning out for Gujarat Titans.

Now, with GT skipper Shubman Gill in blazing form, there is hype if he can be groomed as the next Test skipper. Will the BCCI throw him into the deep end of the pool or still go ahead and name Bumrah as captain. In that case, Gill can be vice-captain. All this is hearsay but being intensely speculated.

People must also remember, even though Rishabh Pant has done badly in the IPL for Lucknow Super Giants, there is no doubting his pedigree in red ball Test cricket. His glovework is top class and as a batter, he still scores in Tests. He did play a stellar role in the last Test in Sydney as well this January.

So, the problem now for the BCCI is one of multiple options. That said, will the BCCI invest in a long-term captain or will there be a transition. It is well-known, the BCCI has conceived a plan for the T20 format and made Suryakumar Yadav as skipper. Likewise, Rohit Sharma, the ODI captain still looks in command. He may even be there till the ICC World Cup in 2027.

Bumrah can be a great Test captain. For those who say he cannot play all five Tests and needs workload management, let him and the think-tank decide how many Tests he can play. Let his deputy take on leadership when he is rested. Will that role be allotted to Gill or former vice captain Pant remains to be seen.

During the Champions Trophy, coach Gambhir had said that KL Rahul is the best option as wicket-keeper batter. Rahul did well in the Champions Trophy but there was this nagging suspicion, Gambhir was being too brash in being anti-Pant, indirectly. All eyes will be on the BCCI bosses. For those who think Ajit Agarkar calls the shots, don’t be a fool. The BCCI think-tank is very big, where even Roger Binny the President is more like a puppet.

We will know in coming days how it plays out. For those who think Pant can be ignored, don’t get it wrong. He has pedigree in Test cricket and can be a good vice-captain, again. Last but not the least, the BCCI has played musical chairs in the past. So, hear the music and tap your feet.