BCCI is planning a succession for India’s Check staff captaincy. Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh are potential candidates. However Rohit Sharma just isn’t out of the captaincy function but.
The time has come for Rohit Sharma to pass on the baton Test captaincy. But even though BCCI prepares a succession plan for India Test team in England, the Indian board has hit a roadblock. The aim is to have a permanent Test captain by India vs England series in June. But who’s next? Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant both of whom have their own problems to deal with. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are also being considered. But they will be the last option.
Potential Candidates for India’s Test Captaincy
Jasprit Bumrah
- Strengths: Bumrah has emerged as a strong candidate due to his impressive performance as a bowler, with 71 wickets in 26 innings since 2024.
- Concerns: His fitness is a significant concern, as he has been managing back issues that could affect his availability for the England series and IPL 2025.
Rishabh Pant
- Strengths: Pant was initially seen as a frontrunner for the role but has faced challenges since his accident. His dynamic playing style and ability to inspire teammates are notable.
- Concerns: There are concerns about his maturity and decision-making skills, which could hinder his candidacy.
KL Rahul
- Strengths: Rahul has captaincy experience and has secured his place in the Test XI.
- Concerns: His inconsistent form and adaptability have raised doubts about his suitability for the captaincy.
Shubman Gill
Strengths: Young, energetic and has led his IPL franchise. He has also led India in white-ball cricket.
Concerns: Outside India, Gill’s performances have been poor, especially in SENA countries. He may not even have a place in the Playing XI outside India in Tests.
Virat Kohli
- Strengths: Kohli’s past leadership experience is undeniable, having led India successfully in various formats.
- Concerns: His recent form has been poor, with an average of 24.52 since 2024, which raises questions about his effectiveness as captain at this stage of his career.
Rohit Sharma: Interim option
The first serious consideration is Rohit Sharma. Despite his poor form and questionable captaincy decisions in Tests, he remains the best bet to lead in England but with T&C applied. His Test return is subject to his red-ball form. He has averaged only 24.76 since 2024 with 11 single-digit scores in 26 innings including a torrid run in Border Gavaskar Trophy where he averaged 6.20 in nine innings.
However, he has only two red-ball matches scheduled. Mumbai will play two Ranji Trophy matches against Jammu & Kashmir and Meghalaya between Jan 23 and Feb 2 before the knockouts. Rohit will be unavailable for Ranji knockouts due to the India vs England ODI series and the ICC Champions Trophy. But the question is, should BCCI even consider his contribution against two minnows of the Ranji Trophy?
Rohit will not be able to play County Cricket since he will be busy with IPL 2025. County season in England begins on April 4, in the middle of IPL 2025. If Mumbai Indians get knocked out from the league stage, Rohit may get two County matches at max. The county will have a month-long break between May 23 and June 22. Hence, there won’t be a lot of opportunities to judge his red-ball form.
“Rohit hasn’t retired from Test. He is available for selection. But whether his form will be good enough for selection will be up for debate during squad selection. If he does not improve his form, he is not going to England is what our understanding is,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.
Jasprit Bumrah: The uncertain option
Jasprit Bumrah seems to be the best option to lead the India Test team. With 71 wickets in 26 innings including five fifers since 2024, he is India’s best player in Test by far. The problem is his fitness. Mumbai Indians are closely monitoring Bumrah’s fitness after he complained of a back problem in Australia. At the moment, he is under observation and is set to miss the IND vs ENG ODI series and is doubtful for the entire ICC Champions Trophy campaign.
Whether he will be fit for IPL 2025 depends on his recovery and diagnosis. There is no stress fracture at the moment. He only has swelling due to excessive workload. But he needs to be managed carefully. Hence, if Bumrah develops a lower back stress fracture which has troubled him in the past, he is all set to miss the IPL 2025 as well as the England tour. In that case, BCCI might just stick to Rohit as an interim option.
“For me, it is a very simple thing. You look at the data and find who is a sure-shot pick in Test cricket. Bumrah has played 45 Tests and Pant has 43 Tests. He (Pant) is 27 now and by the time he was only 23, he had singlehandedly won India one of its greatest Tests at the Gabba. He is a match-winner, a good sounding board for bowlers and should be the vice-captain,” former national selector Devang Gandhi told PTI.
Rishabh Pant: Alternate option
India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Test Rishabh Pant was the frontrunner for Test captaincy before his accident. However, he has yet to convince anyone with his captaincy skills. Many in the BCCI still consider him “immature”, which could play against him.
But if Rohit Sharma does not perform well in IPL 2025 and Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out of India vs England Test series, BCCI could fall back on Rishabh Pant as a temporary solution.
Shubman Gill: Unsure option
Another option BCCI has contemplated in the past was Shubman Gill. But his lack of form outside India in Test has forced the Indian board to rethink. Shubman does not have a permanent spot in the Test team. He was dropped from the Playing XI in Melbourne Test. In fact, Gill’s poor form is the reason why Virat Kohli still has a place in the Test XI. Hence, BCCI may not want to go that route yet.
KL Rahul: Outside chance
Despite being in and out of the Test team, KL Rahul could be considered as a viable option for the England tour. He has captaincy experience as well and he has a permanent spot in Test Playing XI in SENA countries.
However, his inconsistent form and lack of adaptability do not help his captaincy candidature. In fact, many in the BCCI outright rejected his candidature when his name was discussed earlier.
Virat Kohli: Fallback option
That brings the Indian board to rethink going back to Virat Kohli as a temporary solution should Bumrah is ruled out and Rohit is dropped from the Test team. He is the best option BCCI currently has a captain. However, Kohli’s batting form has been poor, to say the least. Since 2024, Kohli has averaged a mere 24.52 in Tests, raising questions about his selection in the Test team. The manner he was dismissed in Australia in eight innings did not help his cause either.
He is considered “not open to feedback” and by calling the former BCCI president a liar in a press conference while he was the captain, he burnt a lot of bridges. Also, he is in the twilight of his career.
“Virat is a great Test captain but it will be a setback for the team if we take a step back instead of taking a step forward. Virat’s feedback will be crucial for any captain. But that should be the best option instead of making him Test captain again,” the BCCI official said.
Batters running for India’s Test captaincy
| Player | Inn | Runs | Avg | HS | 50 | 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 26 | 619 | 24.76 | 131 | 2 | 2 |
| Rishabh Pant | 17 | 576 | 36 | 109 | 3 | 1 |
| Virat Kohli | 19 | 417 | 24.52 | 100 | 1 | 1 |
| Shubman Gill | 22 | 866 | 43.3 | 119 | 3 | 3 |
| KL Rahul | 16 | 493 | 35.21 | 86 | 4 | 0 |
Who is the best option?
As India begins a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, finding a permanent captain is crucial. Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness and workload concerns make him a risky choice. Rishabh Pant, despite his inexperience, could be groomed into a capable leader with the right support. Revisiting Virat Kohli’s captaincy might create more challenges than solutions.
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