Just minutes after confirming his retirement from Test cricket, Rohit Sharma’s exit has reignited the leadership debate in India’s red-ball setup, with Jasprit Bumrah emerging as the likely frontrunner to take over as Test captain.
Rohit, in a heartfelt Instagram post featuring his India Test cap, said:
“It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format.”
The announcement came shortly after reports surfaced that the BCCI had decided to move on from Rohit’s Test captaincy, following a string of poor results — including five losses in India’s last six Tests under his leadership. According to The Indian Express, the selectors held a series of meetings and are believed to have informed Rohit and senior BCCI officials of the decision.
In Rohit’s absence, Jasprit Bumrah has previously captained India — notably in the 2022 rescheduled Test against England at Edgbaston. He remains the only fast bowler after Kapil Dev to lead India in Tests and is now widely tipped to take over full-time. However, no official announcement has been made yet.
He also led in the previously player Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 as Rohit was rested out.
Shubman Gill is also being viewed as a long-term leadership option, especially given his age and consistent performances across formats. But with Bumrah’s seniority and calm demeanour, he appears the most likely candidate to step in during the England tour.
With India set to tour England soon and the WTC cycle heating up, an official decision from the BCCI is expected in the coming weeks.
