New Delhi: Rohit Sharma’s Test career might be all but over after his disastrous tour of Australia as the senior India batter is reportedly unlikely to be picked in Tests again. Rohit endured a forgetful campaign in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 where he managed only 36 runs in three Tests before being dropped from the playing XI from the final 5th Test in Sydney.
Rohit was replaced by Jasprit Burmah as captain in the fifth Test and claimed later that he himself decided to step down from captaincy keeping his woeful form in mind. However, it seems Rohit’s captaincy days are numbered as the selectors have made up their minds on making Bumrah the new permanent Test captain of the Indian team.
Bumrah is being looked at as India’s future Test captain which is also one of the reasons why the Indian team management and the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel didn’t want to risk the pacer for the Champions Trophy 2025. Bumrah was initially named in India’s squad for the Champions Trophy but was excluded later as he failed to recover fully in time for the multi-nation tournament.
There was reportedly nothing wrong with Bumrah’s final scan reports but the selectors and the team management didn’t want to take a chance with the premier pacer, who is currently one of the best fast bowlers in the world. The selectors also didn’t want to rush Bumrah as he has been zeroed in on as the future Test captain of India.
As per a report in PTI, Bumrah, who is currently India’s designated vice-captain in Tests, is set to replace Rohit as captain from the England tour in June-July this year as the senior batter is unlikely to be picked in the longest format again.
“It is understood that the main bone of contention was that Bumrah is yet to start bowling full tilt and those in the know of things said that it is very difficult to get match-fit in such a short time. Rather, he can come back for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and then lead India in England as Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be picked for Tests again,” PTI stated in the report.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Test captaincy record
Bumrah led India for the first time in the one-off fifth and final Test against England in Birmingham in 2022 when Rohit Sharma was battling COVID-19. India lost the Test match but Bumrah showcased his leadership qualities and proved he can be a leader for the future. His next opportunity to lead the team arrived in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia last year.
Bumrah led India in the absence of Rohit, who missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his son. Bumrah led India to a thumping 295-run victory i the Test match to give them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Bumrah led from the front in the game with 8 wickets across two innings. Incidentally, the 295-run victory in Perth was the only win India managed in the five-match series as they lost 3-1.
Bumrah got a chance to lead India in the final fifth Test after Rohit was dropped from the XI but the visitors couldn’t manage a win as the pacer injured himself while bowling during Australia’s first innings. Bumrah injured his back which sidelined him from action from the limited-overs series against England before ruling him out of the Champions Trophy 2025. Overall, Bumrah has led India to 1 win and two losses in three Tests as captain.
Rohit Sharma is reportedly unlikely to be picked again for India in Tests and is all set to be replace as India’s Test captain. The selectors have reportedly made up their mind on who wil be India’s next Test captain. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
