Ravichandran Ashwin Urges BCCI to Consider Bumrah, Jadeja Over Gill for Test Captaincy: "Why Not Think Beyond the Obvious?

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As the clamour grows louder for Shubman Gill to be named India's next Test captain, Ravichandran Ashwin has struck a bold and colourful note of caution, throwing Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja into the leadership ring with equal, if not more, fervour.

With the BCCI selection committee set to name the squad for the five-Test England series later this month, Ashwin's perspective offers a refreshing departure from the predictable chorus.

"Everyone is saying that Gill is the captain. Everyone is going in that direction," Ashwin said during an engaging conversation with former Tamil Nadu opener Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan on YouTube. "But there is a loud option in Jasprit Bumrah, and why do we forget about Ravindra Jadeja?"

Ashwin, who called time on his international career after the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, isn't one to shy away from complex conversations. While many have tipped the 24-year-old Gill - seen as the torchbearer of India's next generation - as a natural successor to Rohit Sharma, Ashwin believes that captaincy is a far more layered responsibility that demands not just talent, but seasoning.

"If you are willing to go for a new person as captain, I would say why not make him [Gill] an understudy of an experienced guy for two years before handing him the job on a full-time basis," Ashwin opined, suggesting a more measured succession plan.

Among the experienced campaigners, Ravindra Jadeja stands out as India's most seasoned Test player in the current set-up, with 80 matches under his belt, amassing 3370 runs and claiming 323 wickets. While the all-rounder has not led India in the longest format, Ashwin believes Jadeja's cricketing acumen and battle-hardened presence make him a worthy contender.

Then there's Jasprit Bumrah - India's pace spearhead and one of the few bowlers in modern cricket to lead their country in Tests. Though his leadership stints have been brief - including two Tests in the latest BGT series - Ashwin sees immense potential in the 30-year-old, despite his injury history.

"Look at Pat Cummins, he also had a back stress fracture, but he is now captaining Australia in Tests and ODIs," Ashwin pointed out. "Like that, Bumrah is our national treasure and he should be in the discussion. He should be asked, will you be able to play five Tests? Can you be a full-time captain?"

In a particularly striking suggestion, Ashwin advocated for a more transparent and meritocratic approach to leadership selection.

"I would say, why not get all three to four candidates and make them do a presentation and ask them each to detail the vision for the team," he said. "It happens in countries like Australia. Why won't we go down that road?"

While the final call will rest with the selectors, Ashwin's words add depth and intrigue to a pivotal moment in Indian cricket. As the Test team looks to script its next chapter post-Rohit and Kohli, the case for Bumrah and Jadeja - two battle-hardened warriors - suddenly seems far more than just a footnote.