Rohit Sharma’s sudden retirement from Test cricket has left the cricketing world stunned. The Indian team’s captain and a stalwart in the format, Sharma had been expected to lead the team on their upcoming tour to England after IPL 2025. Now, the big question is who’s next in line for the captain’s role.
Sharma played his last Test match in December 2024 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Although he didn’t play one match in the Border-Gavaskar series, he denied reports of his retirement then. Now, he’s made it official, confirming he will continue playing in the ODI format. Sharma had previously retired from T20 cricket.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will soon have to announce the new captain as the team is set to play a crucial 5-match Test series in England after IPL. The contenders for the top job are Jaspreet Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, with Bumrah and Rahul having previously led the team in Test cricket. Some reports mention Virat Kohli, but it’s unlikely he’ll take on the role again.
During commentary for a KKR vs CSK match in IPL 2025, Harbhajan Singh backed Jaspreet Bumrah as his preferred candidate for the job.
He said:
>Rohit Sharma is a great player and captain. If not him, who are you looking at? In my opinion, it’s Bumrah. He’s already the vice-captain. You might be considering Shubman Gill, but give him time. Prepare Gill for at least a year.
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Bumrah is ready to take on the role, but there are concerns about his injury history.
He stated:
>Bumrah got injured during the Sydney Test and was out for 2-3 months. I wonder how the selectors are thinking. Will they play him in all five Test matches, or manage his workload by giving him breaks? He’s been idle otherwise.
Sanjay Bangar believes Bumrah is the obvious choice for the captain’s role and suggests KL Rahul as a good vice-captain.
Contenders for the Top Job
The main contenders for the Indian Test captaincy are:
- Jaspreet Bumrah
- Shubman Gill
- KL Rahul
Each has their strengths and weaknesses. Bumrah has led the team before and is currently the vice-captain. Gill is a rising star, but may need more experience. Rahul has also captained the team in Test cricket.
The BCCI will have to weigh these factors when making their decision.