"I am shocked" - Sanjay Manjrekar destroys Ajit Agarkar for Jasprit Bumrah’s Test captaincy snub

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar expressed surprise at Jasprit Bumrah not being considered for India’s Test captaincy ahead of the England series. According to media outlets, Shubman Gill is a strong contender with backing from the BCCI following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket.

Following India’s loss in the Border-Gavaskar series, cricket experts backed Bumrah as Rohit Sharma’s successor in Test cricket. Bumrah made a compelling case to take over the captaincy. India are yet to announce a new captain for the five-match Test series against England, set to begin next month.

"I Am Shocked That We Are Looking At..." - Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar questioned why Jasprit Bumrah was appointed vice-captain for the Australia series if he isn’t being considered to lead the side. He called out the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel for the inconsistency.

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"I am shocked that we are looking at any other option other than Bumrah as Test captain! Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice captain carefully," Manjrekar wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

I am shocked that we are looking at any other option other than Bumrah as Test captain! Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice captain carefully.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 13, 2025

Bumrah has led India’s Test team on multiple occasions, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He took charge in the opening Test in Perth in November 2024 when Rohit Sharma was unavailable, and guided the team to their only victory in a disappointing tour.

Bumrah was again handed the reins in the fifth Test in Sydney in January 2025 after Sharma opted out due to poor form. Before that, Bumrah had captained India in a Test against England at Edgbaston in 2022.

Jasprit Bumrah Deserves The Captaincy But The Selectors... - Ravichandran Ashwin

Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ravichandran Ashwin said Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be the most experienced member on the upcoming tour of England. He believes Bumrah is a deserving candidate for captaincy, but added that the final decision will depend on the selectors.

"Bumrah is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will make a decision based on his physical capacity," Ashwin said on his YouTube show 'Ash Ki Baat'.

They Will Always Want An Extra Over From Jasprit Bumrah - Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar, in an interview with Sports Today, dismissed concerns about Jasprit Bumrah's workload. Gavaskar pointed out that as captain, Bumrah would be better placed to manage his own workload.

"Jasprit Bumrah for me... if you appoint somebody else, they will always want an extra over from Bumrah because he's your number one bowler capable of taking a wicket any time, you want that extra over.

"But Bumrah being the captain himself would know that 'look, this is the time that I must take a break. Yes, I've got a wicket in my previous over but my body says to me that I need a break'," he explained his reasons.

India will commence the new World Test Championship (2025-27) cycle with a five-match series against England, beginning on June 20 in Leeds.

Also read: Shaun Tait appointed as Bangladesh bowling coach