Ravichandran Ashwin's wild India Test Captain pick leaves Gautam Gambhir-Ajit Agarkar shellshocked

In the midst of IPL 2025 resumption, fans are waiting for the appointment of a new captain for the Indian Test team.

Former Indian player Ravichandran Ashwin talked about a different perspective on Test captaincy and also threw a wildcard option for the selectors.

Read also: BCCI announces India squad for England tour 2025

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Ravichandran Ashwin’s wildcard pick

The reports are claiming that Shubman Gill is most likely to take over the Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma. But many former players are still backing Jasprit Bumrah to lead the side again.

Ravichandran Ashwin agreed that Bumrah is much capable skipper than Gill, but his workload in Tests is a major concern to appoint him as the next skipper.

In between Bumrah and Gill, Ashwin picked a wildcard player for the leadership race. He picked his former fellow spin partner Ravindra Jadeja as he is the most experienced player in the Indian team right now after Rohit and Kohli’s retirement.

"Let's not forget, Jadeja is the most experienced player in the team. He should be in the conversation. If you're willing to train a new guy for two years and then make him captain, Jadeja can do that for two years too. They (India) can even play him as vice-captain (under Jadeja). It will seem like I'm throwing a wildcard," Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin wants selectors to give at least two years to Jadeja to prove his capabilities in the Indian Test side.

Ravindra Jadeja shatters big record in Tests

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja became the longest-ever reign as the no.1 all-rounder in Test cricket history for 1,151 days.

Jadeja’s consistency with both bat and ball in every condition has been a reason for his Test legacy. He has proved himself in all aspects of the game.

Jadeja has played 80 Test matches and scored 3370 runs at an average of 34.7 with the bat. He also scored four centuries and 22 gritty half-centuries in his Test career.

He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket. Jadeja scalps 323 wickets in 150 innings. He has taken 15 five-wicket hauls in his Test career.

Ravichandran Ashwin on Shubman Gill's future

Ravi Ashwin advised Gill to know about what’s happening in first-class cricket after becoming the Test skipper.

According to Ashwin, Gill has to pick the best playing XI in Test cricket, and to make a good Test squad, he must track the domestic cricket in India.

Gill has to prove himself in the England tour as he is yet to perform in the overseas Test matches. He is standing tall as becoming the next Test skipper for the Indian team.