Former India captain Anil Kumble has thrown his support behind Jasprit Bumrah to lead the team in the upcoming Test series against England, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format. Kumble believes that Bumrah, who previously served as Rohit’s deputy in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, should take on the leadership role for the five-match Test series in England, starting on June 20.
Despite Bumrah’s injury during the BGT series, where he missed most of the fifth Test, Kumble suggested that the vice-captain would step in if needed. He mentioned to ESPNcricinfo that starting with Bumrah as captain and assessing his fitness could be a good strategy for the team.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, under Bumrah’s captaincy, India secured a convincing victory over Australia in the first Test, despite a shaky start with the bat. Bumrah’s exceptional performance with 32 wickets in five Tests earned him the Player of the Series award.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill has been showcasing his leadership skills in the IPL, leading Gujarat Titans to 13 wins in 23 matches with an impressive win percentage. However, Kumble emphasized that Test cricket is a different challenge altogether and suggested that Gill focus on his batting for now.
Former India selector MSK Prasad also weighed in on the captaincy debate, expressing his preference for Bumrah to lead the side in England. He suggested that Shubman Gill should concentrate on his batting and gain more experience before taking on leadership responsibilities.
Gill’s performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was modest, with 93 runs in five innings. However, he has shown promise in away Tests, accumulating 716 runs in 28 innings at an average of 27.54, including one century and two half-centuries.
In conclusion, the consensus among former players and selectors is leaning towards Jasprit Bumrah taking on the captaincy role for the upcoming Test series against England. While Shubman Gill shows potential as a leader, the focus for now seems to be on his batting skills, with the vice-captaincy role being considered for him in the future.
