Ravindra Jadeja recently shared his thoughts about wanting to be the Test captain for India. In a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin on the Kutti Stories podcast, Jadeja said he’d definitely take the role if he got the opportunity. After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepped down, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to give Shubman Gill the captaincy, with Rishabh Pant as his right-hand man. Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, mentioned that Jasprit Bumrah was also considered for the captaincy.
When Ashwin asked Jadeja if he’d like to lead the Test side, he expressed his interest, mentioning that he’s played under many great captains and has picked up on their different styles. Yes, definitely! I’ve played under so many captains, and I understand what the players need, the 36-year-old Jadeja said. He pointed out that every captain has their unique approach. He talked about MS Dhoni’s straightforward strategy of placing fielders based on where batters like to hit.
Jadeja is the last player remaining from the strong Indian team that played under Kohli in the mid-2010s. Ashwin, hosting the podcast, also had to retire earlier this year during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
As for his place on the team, Jadeja might not be a definite pick for the upcoming England tour since Washington Sundar has been getting more attention from the management lately. He talked about what it’s like to captain in Test cricket, saying it’s easier compared to the fast-paced T20 format. Jadeja mentioned that being a Test captain involves making strategic changes, but it’s less chaotic than the constant changes seen in T20 games where every ball matters.
India’s squad for the England series was announced on May 24, with Shubman Gill as captain and Rishabh Pant as his deputy.