Ravi Shastri blocks Jasprit Bumrah's Test Captaincy appointment

After Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket, the big question is who will lead India in the longest format of the game, and there is a lot of noise regarding the same. Amid the suggestions and speculations, Ravi Shastri has made it clear that it’s time to look ahead, not lean on Jasprit Bumrah.

However, Ravi Shastri admitted that Jasprit Bumrah will be the automatic candidate to succeed Rohit Sharma, but at the same time, the former Indian head coach believes that the pacer’s recent injury troubles should be a red flag for the selectors while considering him for the Test captaincy.

I don’t want Jasprit Bumrah to be made captain: Ravi Shastri

After spending months on the sidelines due to a back issue that he sustained on the Australia tour and going on to miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 triumph, putting the extra load of captaincy on Jasprit Bumrah could risk both his fitness and India's bowling strength, according to Shastri.

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Ravi Shastri said in the ICC Review, “See, for me, Jasprit Bumrah would have been the obvious choice after Australia. But I don’t want Jasprit to be made captain and then you lose him as a bowler. I think he (Jasprit Bumrah) has to take his body one game at a time.

He's coming back now after a serious injury. He'll have played IPL cricket, which is four-over cricket. Now will come the test of bowling 10 overs, 15 overs. And the last thing you want is some pressure on his mind being captain as well.”

Ravi Shastri bats for Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant to lead India's new Test era

Instead, the former Indian captain has set his sights on the next generation of cricketers. With big names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from Tests, Shastri feels this is the perfect opportunity to build a fresh core and named Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as the perfect options.

Shastri noted, “You groom somebody, and I would say Shubman’s looked very good. Give him the opportunity. He's 25 or 26 years of age; even give him time. There's Rishabh as well. I think these two are the obvious ones I'm looking at because of their age, and they have a decade ahead of them. So, let them learn.”

Read Also: Shubman Gill or Jasprit Bumrah? Sunil Gavaskar picks India's Next Test Captain

Ravi Shastri says Shubman Gill 'has all the qualities' to become Test captain

The former Indian head coach said that Gill and Pant, who are both in their mid-20s and already leading IPL franchises, bring youthful energy and give a long runway to the team. Shastri has pointed out that Gill’s calm, composed style and experience with captaincy make him a strong contender to shape India’s next era in Test cricket.

Shastri signed off by saying, “They've got experience as captains now, captaining their franchise, and that makes a difference. The little I've seen of Shubman looks very interesting. Composed, calm, he has all the qualities.”

Notably, Gill is currently serving as the vice-captain of India’s ODI team and even captained India in a T20I series in Zimbabwe. Now, the Gujarat Titans captain is reportedly set to take over as India’s new full-time captain in Tests. He made his captaincy debut in the IPL last year.