IND vs ENG: Bumrah clarifies his reasons for not accepting India’s Test captaincy

The Indian cricket team is ready to begin their five-match Test series versus England (IND vs ENG) at Headingley, Leeds, commencing June 20.

The Test series will mark the debut of India’s new red-ball captain, Shubman Gill, as he leads the team for the first time. However, prior to that, star Indian fast bowler and ex-vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, in an interview with Sky Sports on Tuesday, discussed the reason he did not take on the role of India Test captain and explained how Shubman Gill was selected by the BCCI following Rohit Sharma’s retirement.

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Shubman Gill was appointed as India’s Test captain for the England series after Rohit Sharma stepped down from red-ball cricket, followed by Virat Kohli. Bumrah, who served as the vice-captain of the Test team and even captained in three Tests (one in England and two in Australia) during Rohit’s absence, should have ideally been the successor; however, the back injury he sustained in the Sydney Test in Australia altered everything.

He stated that he informed the BCCI during the IPL that his body may not handle the strain of leading in five Tests. Drawing on guidance from medical professionals and his own reflections, Bumrah stated that having a divided captaincy during such an important series would not have been just to the team. He emphasized that his attention was on lasting performance and fully contributing as a player.

Also Read: India vs England Test Series: India’s 18 Men’s Squad Analysis

Why Jasprit Bumrah stepping down from captaincy ahead of IND vs ENG Test

Bumrah stated he can contribute more to the team’s success as a player rather than solely being the captain.

“Although my presence as a player brings much more, it’s just not as a captain.” The captaincy is a position, yet there are always leaders within the team. “I wished to accomplish that.”

Often considered the top fast bowler in world cricket, Bumrah stated that he aims to avoid circumstances that would strain his body to the point where he cannot consistently participate in all three formats.

Bumrah mentioned that although his body feels fit after a demanding IPL, he has been training cautiously to adapt to the challenges of Test cricket. He mentioned that the shift from T20 to red-ball cricket is based on workload, highlighting how the team progressively raised overs during warm-ups and intra-squad matches.

Regarding the possibility of bowling shorter spells this series, he was ambiguous but recognized the significance of being strategic. “I’m not aging any slower, and I wish to keep playing all three formats,” he stated.