Our Bureau
Mumbai
After the retirement of the two stalwarts of the Indian Test Team, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, there has been a turmoil as to who will take up the leadership role in the Indian team. With the new World Test Championship cycle starting with the England Test series, the rumours mills have been running high in predicting the new test captain of the Indian Test Team.
The Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Gautam Gambhir has extended his presence in Mumbai to visit the Siddhivinayak Temple. Because of this extension, people have started speculating that the stay is to discuss the appointment of a new captain. As it was reported that Shubhman Gill has been finalised as the next Indian skipper but this extended stay of Gambhir has people questioning whether Gill has been finalised or not.
India’s captaincy race was basically between two people Jasprit Bumrah and Shubhman Gill. Although Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul’s names were being brought in the discussions, they have now been left way behind as per industry sources. Recent reports suggested that Gill was being seen as the final choice as the skipper of the team after the fitness concerns surrounding Bumrah gave him a slip.
While everyone is talking about Gill, it must have been tough times for Bumrah as he was captaining India in the last test against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah in his last test match against Australia went back to the dressing room after a back injury which ruled him out of the remainder of the match. He was later ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy and the initial few matches of the Indian Premier League.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, was baffled at how Bumrah is not being considered a first choice as the captain after his impressive stint in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Manjrekar took to his social media showing his bafflement and said, “I am shocked that we are looking at options other than Bumrah as Test captain. Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice-captain carefully.”
With the reports of the new captain-in-waiting having an extended meeting with the head coach in the national capital a few days back, there is still some uncertainty regarding who will take the captaincy in the red-ball format.
