Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri shared his thoughts on the current situation with India’s Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired. He suggested looking at a couple of young players who could be good fits for the role. In an episode of The ICC Review hosted by Sanjana Ganesan, Shastri emphasized the need to focus on the future and said Jasprit Bumrah shouldn’t take on captaincy duties. Jasprit would have been the obvious pick after Australia, but I don’t want him carrying that pressure and missing out as a bowler, he mentioned.
Bumrah has led India in three matches, including a notable win against Australia in Perth, but he has struggled with injuries, notably missing almost three months earlier this year. He needs to take it one game at a time after such a serious injury, Shastri said, pointing out that the transition from IPL’s shorter format to Test matches demands a lot more from a bowler.
Instead of putting more pressure on Bumrah, Shastri recommended Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as the top candidates for captain. You can groom someone for the job. Shubman has already shown great promise. He’s young and has time to grow, Shastri argued. Rishabh is also a solid choice. Both have leadership experience from the IPL.
Shastri mentioned that the recent retirements of Rohit and Kohli mean it’s time to look ahead. He acknowledged that both Gill and Pant have been captains in the IPL, which strengthens their cases. He praised Shubman for his calm demeanor and thought he has the right qualities for leadership.
Addressing concerns about Gill’s performance overseas, Shastri defended him, saying it’s important to give him time to adjust. You always hear about not scoring runs abroad, but let him play. He’s a class player, he said, referring to Gill’s experiences and noting that he’s served as vice-captain and even led the team in a T20 series against Zimbabwe. Shastri believes Gill has plenty of cricket ahead of him and will eventually make a mark in international matches.