Sanjay Manjrekar, former India cricketer, has stated that Jasprit Bumrah’s injury concerns and availability is being overstated in the conversation of who will be the next India captain in Tests, for the tour of England.
India is set to tour England for five Tests starting June 20 and since Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format, The captaincy race choices are being considered by Ajit Agarkar's selection panel.
At first, it was thought that Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit's longtime deputy and the interim captain during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last winter, would be the obvious successor. Despite his struggles over the last two seasons, 31-year-old Bumrah led India's assault against Australia and finished each series as the team's top wicket-taker.
Sanjay Manjrekar, ex-India pacer, stated that if Bumrah himself has not said he will not captain India or ruled himself out of England tour, there should be no discussion on India captaincy in Tests.
“Has Bumrah said he won’t captain India? Or has he ruled himself out of the England series? Then why are we discussing who will captain India?,” Manjrekar stated on X.
However, the selectors reportedly leaned against a younger Shubman Gill because of the fast bowler's management-heavy workload and the possibility that he would be rested in the middle of the series.
That line of thinking, however, has drawn sharp opposition from former India batter-turned-broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar, who believes the “availability” concern is being overstated.
“If Bumrah’s availability because of injuries is the issue, didn’t we have Rohit captain India in just three of the five Tests in Australia recently? Availability can’t be the be all and end all. Deservability is far more important, especially in Test cricket,” Manjrekar asked on X.
Gill's long-term prospects are reportedly intriguing to selectors. The 26-year-old right-hander has solidified his position at No. 3 in Test matches and might also replace Virat Kohli at No. 4. Gill is already the Gujarat Titans' IPL captain.
