Why Jasprit Bumrah said no to India’s Test captaincy

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah revealed that he was the front-runner in the race to be India’s next Test captain after Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket. However, he informed the BCCI that he preferred to play solely as a senior bowler in the team and not take up the leadership role due to his workload management concerns. 

Bumrah had an extensive conversation with his medical team during the Indian Premier League with regards to his workload. He was advised not to play all the games in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Bumrah then told the BCCI that he wouldn't be the right candidate to lead the Test team as he wouldn’t play all the matches in the series. 

"Before Rohit [Sharma] & Virat [Kohli] retired - During the IPL, I had spoken to BCCI, that I have discussed workload going forward in a five-match Test series, [and that] I have spoken to people who manage my back. We came to conclusion that we have to be little more smart, then I called the BCCI that I don't want to be looked at the leadership role because I won't be able to play all the Test matches," Bumrah told Sky Sports.

"BCCI was looking at me as the leadership role, but I have to say no to them because it's not ideal when someone is leading for 3 Tests then some others have to lead rest of the tests so it's not fair for the team as I wanted to put team first," he said.

Later, on 24th May, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced Shubman Gill as the new Test captain of the Indian Cricket Team in a press conference. In his first Test assignment, Gill will lead India in the five-match Test series in England, which starts on 20th June 2025. 

Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian team in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. India won the game by 295 runs and Bumrah received worldwide praise for his leadership acumen. He was superb with the ball throughout the series but suffered a back spasm on day 2 of the fifth Test match in Sydney. 

He couldn’t bowl for the remainder of the Test match and was ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He made his comeback in the Indian Premier League and helped Mumbai Indians ressurect their campaign after suffering a string of losses at the start of the season. Bumrah now has a huge responsibility on his shoulders as he will be leading India’s pace attack in England.