Jasprit Bumrah finally reveals why he wasn’t named Test captain by BCCI

Fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was one of the hot favourites to lead the Indian side in Test cricket once Rohit Sharma stepped down in May. In fact, his appointment as the captain seemed a no-brainer, since he was already the vice-captain and also captained a couple of games during the Australian tour. However, a shock decision came as Shubman Gill was named the captain of the team going forward by the national selectors.

Gill will be on his first assignment as Test captain with the England series. The tour is set to host India for five games, starting June 20 at Leeds. Ahead of the series, Bumrah has finally spilled the beans on why the selection committee and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not announce him as the leader of the side in red-ball format. The communication led to Bumrah himself stepping away from the role due to workload concerns.

“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 in an interview ahead of the England series.

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 added. 

While the appointment of Gill may have come as a surprise, it was only fair since the fast bowler Bumrah may not have been able to cope with the rigours of the long tours away from home. Being the frontline bowler, the Indian team wants Bumrah to be in his best shape and contribute with the ball in order to win crucial matches for the side in the England series, and in the farther future as well, as far as the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle is concerned.

The England series will begin with the first Test at the Headingley, Leeds from June 20, as Bumrah and India gear up for their first-ever Test of the new WTC cycle.