Saturday, March 29, 2025
India is on the verge of announcing a new Test captain, and former head coach Ravi Shastri has already shared a strong opinion. He believes Jasprit Bumrah should not lead the team and instead sees Shubman Gill as the most suitable choice.
While speaking to the ICC, Shastri recalled that after India’s tour of Australia, Bumrah appeared to be a natural pick for captaincy. However, he emphasized that giving Bumrah this responsibility could compromise his bowling performance.
“If Bumrah becomes captain, the team might lose a world-class bowler,” Shastri warned. He pointed to Bumrah’s past injury issues, especially the one that ruled him out of major tournaments like the Champions Trophy after he briefly captained in Australia.
Shastri urged that Bumrah should prioritize his physical well-being. “He’s just returned from a serious injury,” he said. “His body needs to be managed carefully, match by match.”
Shastri firmly backed Shubman Gill as a long-term captaincy prospect. According to recent reports, current coach Gautam Gambhir and selector Ajit Agarkar have already approached Gill about leading the Test side.
The former coach praised Gill for his temperament and leadership qualities. “He’s calm, thoughtful, and mature. Give him time to grow, and he will lead well,” Shastri noted. He added that while Gill plays a lot of IPL cricket, Test captaincy requires a deeper level of tactical and emotional preparation.
Alongside Gill, Shastri mentioned Rishabh Pant as another strong candidate for the future. “Both Rishabh and Shubman have bright futures. They just need the right environment to learn and evolve,” he said.
Shastri pointed out that experience in leading IPL franchises helps but doesn’t fully prepare players for international captaincy. Still, he remains optimistic. “These youngsters have a decade ahead of them. Let them grow into the role gradually,” he said.
As anticipation builds around India’s next Test captain, Shastri’s comments add valuable perspective. He clearly favors youth, long-term development, and role specialization. The final decision from the BCCI is expected shortly, and it could shape the future of Indian cricket leadership for years to come.
