Jasprit Bumrah has revealed that he was the preferred choice of the selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, for India’s Test captaincy. However, he declined the offer due to concerns about his workload. With Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket and Virat Kohli soon following suit, the selectors ultimately chose Shubman Gill to lead the team in the upcoming England series. Bumrah, speaking to Dinesh Karthik, emphasized the importance of managing his fitness and ensuring his availability across all formats.
Bumrah stated that before the retirements of Rohit and Kohli, he had discussed his workload with the BCCI. He consulted with medical professionals to understand the best way to manage his physical condition, leading him to the decision to decline the captaincy role. He felt it would be unfair to the team to have inconsistent leadership during a five-Test series. He prioritized his role as a player, believing he could contribute more effectively by remaining fit and available. Bumrah highlighted that he had already captained India in three Tests and had the ambition to lead the team, but ultimately put the team’s needs ahead of his personal aspirations.