Jasprit Bumrah clearly emerges as the top choice in terms of leadership skills and respect from peers. His calmness, tactical acumen, and previous captaincy stints show he has what it takes to lead. Legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Kris Srikkanth advocate strongly for him, highlighting his understanding of his own workload as a major advantage. The concern, however, is his injury history—stress fractures and back surgery make it uncertain whether he can handle the physical demands of an entire England series, especially given the intense bowling workload Test cricket requires. Experts like Ravi Shastri emphasize that while Bumrah would be ideal, his fitness must come first, and adding captaincy pressure might be risky.
Shubman Gill is positioned as the future—young, talented, and already entrusted with leadership in limited-overs formats and IPL. At 25, he has a steady batting record and the promise of maturity that comes from experience gained over the next few years. But as Sanjay Bangar points out, he may still need time to cement his place and build leadership confidence in the longer format before being handed full responsibility. The idea of grooming him alongside a senior leader seems widely supported. His potential as a long-term captain aligns with India’s vision for continuity through the new World Test Championship cycle.
Rishabh Pant adds a different flavor to the leadership mix. His fearless, aggressive style is well-suited for the pressure cooker of international Test cricket, and his overseas records back up his credentials. Though untested as a captain, his rapport with teammates and ability to perform in high-stakes conditions makes him a compelling candidate for vice-captaincy or even captaincy in the future. Several former selectors and experts recommend keeping Pant in the leadership circle as a deputy or understudy.
Other candidates like KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja are also in the conversation, but their chances seem less favored due to either inconsistent form or recent injury history.
The pragmatic approach that seems to resonate across expert opinions is:
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Make Jasprit Bumrah the captain given his experience and leadership qualities, but protect his workload carefully. Let him lead when fit and rested, and allow him to manage his bowling spells wisely.
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Appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain to gain leadership experience and eventually take over as a full-time captain after the WTC cycle or when Bumrah’s fitness concerns persist.
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Keep Rishabh Pant in the leadership mix, possibly as a deputy or a leader in waiting, given his impact and potential.
This approach balances the present need for a strong leader with the future vision to groom younger talent. It’s a blend of ambition, caution, and foresight that suits the challenges of a demanding Test calendar and the high expectations on Indian cricket.
