"Don’t kill golden goose": Jasprit Bumrah blocked from India captaincy as Ajit Agarkar warned

Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has opposed the idea of pace bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah becoming the next captain of the Indian cricket team in the Test format. Mohammad Kaif's response came after the Men in Blue's 3-1 loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series.

Jasprit Bumrah captained India to their only victory in the series in Perth, where they secured an emphatic 295-run win over Australia. He stepped in as captain for the fifth Test after Rohit Sharma was sidelined due to poor form. However, the team suffered a six-wicket loss in Sydney, leading to a series defeat.

Jasprit Bumrah’s Heavy Workload in the BGT 2024-25 Series Took a Toll on Him

The pacer suffered a back spasm during the match in Sydney, forcing him to leave the field in Australia’s first innings. He returned to bat in India’s second innings, but he couldn’t take the field for the final innings. Bumrah could take over the captaincy, with uncertainty surrounding Rohit Sharma’s future.

Bumrah’s heavy workload during the series took a toll on him. India struggled to provide a rest for their key pacer throughout the series. While the early finishes in the first two games and a drawn match in Brisbane gave some flexibility, the 53-over spell in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne proved too much.

BCCI Should Think Twice Before Appointing Bumrah as Full-Time Captain - Mohammad Kaif

BCCI shd think twice before appointing Bumrah as full time captain.He needs to solely focus on taking wkts and staying fit.Added leadership responsibility, getting carried away in heat of moment can result in injuries and shorten an outstanding career.Don’t kill the golden goose.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 8, 2025

Mohammad Kaif took to his social media account X (formerly known as Twitter) to express concerns over Jasprit Bumrah being appointed as the full-time captain of the Indian team. He urged the BCCI to think carefully before making the decision.

The former Indian batter stated that Bumrah should focus on taking wickets and staying fit, warning that the added responsibility of captaincy could lead to injuries. Kaif advised the Indian board not to risk the career of such an outstanding player.

"BCCI shd think twice before appointing Bumrah as full time captain.He needs to solely focus on taking wkts and staying fit.Added leadership responsibility, getting carried away in heat of moment can result in injuries and shorten an outstanding career. Don’t kill the golden goose," Kaif wrote.

Bumrah bowled 151.2 overs in the series, but Mohammed Siraj (153.2), Mitchell Starc (157.1), and Pat Cummins (167) bowled even more. He finished as the series' leading wicket-taker, taking 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 and a strike rate of 28.38. Bumrah earned the Player of the Series award.

Jasprit Bumrah Has to Be the Test Captain - Sanjay Manjrekar

However, former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar backed Jasprit Bumrah to take over, calling it a "no-brainer." Manjrekar emphasized that Bumrah should be the captain for the upcoming series in England.

"It's a no-brainer for me. The next Test series is in England and Bumrah has to be the Test captain," Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo, as quoted by India Today.

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