Gambhir backs Bumrah as Test Captain, Jaiswal his deputy for England tour; Hardik to lead in white-ball format

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India head coach Gautam Gambhir has advocated for fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to assume the role of Test captain. This recommendation comes ahead of India's challenging five-match Test series in England, set to commence in June, marking the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle.

Gambhir's proposal is rooted in his assessment that Bumrah and young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal are the only players with secured positions in the Test lineup. Consequently, he believes they are best suited to lead the team.

Gambhir has reportedly communicated his intentions to Bumrah, expressing his desire to appoint him as the new Test captain for the England series. However, Bumrah's recent lower back injury, which sidelined him from the upcoming Champions Trophy, raises concerns about his fitness and ability to handle the rigors of captaincy.

Mykhel had earlier reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is cautious about naming Bumrah as a long-term captain due to his injury history and he might not be able to play all the matches due to workload management.

In light of this, Gambhir has suggested the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee to consider grooming Yashasvi Jaiswal as a future leader, potentially starting with the vice-captaincy in the England series.

This approach aligns with India's emerging strategy of appointing different captains for each format. In white-ball cricket, Hardik Pandya is seen as the eventual successor, poised to take over leadership responsibilities.

"Post Champions Trophy, a call on Rohit Sharma's ODI future will be taken as Indian captain. Hardik will be the ODI captain first if Surya continues to flop, Hardik will be gradually given T20 captaincy as well," a source told myKhel.

This move aims to manage player workloads effectively and harness specialised skills suited to each format. As the team prepares, the decisions made regarding captaincy will be pivotal in shaping India's performance in the new World Test Championship cycle.