Jasprit Bumrah should be India’s next Test captain, according to former fast bowler Madan Lal. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee will select his replacement in the days ahead after the latter announced his retirement from the red-ball game earlier this week.
But if Jasprit Bumrah is available and healthy, Lal believes he is the best candidate to lead.
Shubman Gill is the front-runner to captain India in the game’s longest format, according to many reports. In recent years, the Gujarati seamer has been Rohit’s deputy. In his three Test matches as captain, he has claimed 15 wickets. During the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah leadership skills also won over both fans and analysts.
“Jasprit Bumrah seems like the ideal candidate to govern India. India Today cited Lal, who played for India in the 1983 ODI World Cup, as stating, “Fitness is a different thing, but if he is available and fit, then he is the first choice.”
Rohit’s decision to quit from Test matches is supported by Madan Lal.
Lal backed Rohit, 38, in his decision to abandon the five-day schedule. Someone as seasoned as the Nagpur-born cricketer must have given it considerable thought before deciding to retire, according to the cricketer-turned-expert.
“Look, there isn’t any room left on the team when such huge men are added. They become the first option by default. However, form can appear at any moment. How about form? Okay, they haven’t done a very good job. But it’s a personal choice, regardless of what they decided to do about retirement. They must have given it careful consideration before making that choice,” Lal remarked.
The future captain of India will begin his career with a challenging task. The Asian powerhouses will begin their World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 cycle next month when they go to England for a five-match Test series.
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