After Rohit Sharma, BCCI to hand Test captaincy to young batter, not Jasprit Bumrah

Shubman Gill is being considered by the board as the next Test captain. In this scenario, he could be appointed vice-captain of the team for the England tour, replacing Jasprit Bumrah. Gill is currently the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team.

After the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, the Indian cricket team will tour England for a five-match Test series. This series will mark the beginning of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. The BCCI is about to announce the Indian team for this crucial series.

Shubman Gill Could Become the New Test Vice-Captain

According to media reports, young batsman Shubman Gill could be given a significant responsibility on the England tour. The BCCI, considering him a future captain, might appoint him as vice-captain in place of Jasprit Bumrah. It is worth noting that Gill is currently the vice-captain of the ODI team and has consistently emerged as a rising star in Indian cricket.

Bumrah Will Not Play the Entire Series Due to Workload Management

According to a report in ‘The Indian Express’, it is unlikely that Jasprit Bumrah will play all five matches of the England Test series. The BCCI may rest him in some matches, keeping workload management in mind. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a vice-captain who will play the entire series.

India-England Series Schedule (2025)
20-24 June: First Test, Headingley
2-6 July: Second Test, Birmingham
10-14 July: Third Test, Lord’s
23-27 July: Fourth Test, Manchester
31 July-4 August: Fifth Test, The Oval

A board official said, ‘We want a player who is available for all five Test matches and can be given the vice-captaincy. Bumrah won’t play all five matches, so we don’t want to appoint different vice-captains for different matches. It would be better if the captain and vice-captain are decided and play all five Test matches.’

Rohit Sharma’s Form and Future Also a Concern

The current Test captain, Rohit Sharma, is in concerning form recently. There is also speculation that he might announce his retirement in the next one or two years. Therefore, the team management wants to groom a young leader who can take over the captaincy in the future.

Bumrah’s Fitness Again in Question

Bumrah’s fitness is also a major concern for the BCCI. He suffered a back injury during the Sydney Test in 2023, which kept him out of cricket for three months and ruled him out of the Champions Trophy. Due to this injury, he also couldn’t play in the first half of IPL 2025. Before this, in 2022, Bumrah was away from the field for about 11 months after back surgery.