Jasprit Bumrah has reportedly stepped aside from the race to become India's next Test captain, according to Sky Sports News.

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have now emerged as the front-runners for leadership role after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket last week.

Having led India in a couple of Test matches during the BGT 2024-25, Bumrah was seen as the favourite for the job. However, the ace pacer is understood to have informed the selectors that he cannot commit to playing all five matches in long Test series because of workload concerns.

With India set to travel to England for five Tests next month, the selectors are said to prefer someone who can take part in the entire series.

With Bumrah out of the reckoning, the selectors will likely choose between Gill and Pant. Whichever player isn't selected as captain is likely to perform the role of a deputy.

The official announcement, along with India's squad for the England tour, is expected by May 24.

In another major development, star batter Virat Kohli has reportedly informed the BCCI of his decision to retire from Test cricket ahead of the upcoming England series.

While the BCCI hasn’t released an official statement, it didn’t deny the report as well, as per Sky Sports News.

It is learnt that Kohli told chief selector Ajit Agarkar in April about his intention to quit the longest format before the new WTC cycle gets underway in June.

Agarkar and another BCCI official were planning to interact with Kohli again, but that meeting is currently uncertain due to growing tensions between India and Pakistan at the border. The government has advised citizens against inter-city travel.

(With ANI Inputs)