'Jasprit Bumrah informed the selectors that...: Sunil Gavaskar's blunt take on why Shubman Gill became India's Test captain

Cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar opens up on the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to appoint Shubman Gill as India's new Test captain over veteran speedster Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the five-Test match series against England. Since Rohit Sharma's retirement, there has been a debate over India's future Test captain, where many legendary cricketers backed Jasprit Bumrah as Rohit's successor to lead India in whites, and others supported Gill to lead the side in the longest format of the game.

However, BCCI announced Gill as the captain after speedster Bumrah told the board that he won't be able to feature in all five Test matches, considering the workload. Sunil Gavaskar provided insights into how and when the decision was finalised.

"The fact that a total team-man and selfless cricketer named Jasprit Bumrah informed the selectors that since he may not be able to play all Test matches because of his back issue, the selectors could zero in at Gill as the new India captain, made the selection even easier. Make no mistake, Bumrah will be at hand for Gill to lean on to and he will also undoubtedly lead the bowling group as they try and plot the English batters' dismissals," the former India captain wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

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Notably, Bumrah was India's vice-captain during the team's last red-ball assignment in Australia, where he also captained the side in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, where the Men in Blue defeated Australia, which was the only win in a five-Test match series.

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Gavaskar believes that the Shubman Gill-led side looks well balanced, and his only concern revolves around the itinerary. India and England play the first Test from June 20, with the next four being played across 33 days. That's 45 days for all five Tests with little time to relax in between matches, and hence, Gavaskar welcomed BCCI's decision to pick back-up players, especially bowlers, who can come in handy.

"The Indian team looks well balanced, and now with BCCI having enough funds, the selectors' jobs are a bit easier as they can pick 18 instead of the 16 that most other teams choose. So, they have taken six new-ball users plus Nitish Reddy who can bowl lively medium pace. Yes, the tour is a cramped one with five Test matches in six weeks and so there will be need for net bowlers as the Test bowlers would need some rest after the efforts in the back-to-back Test matches," added Gavaskar.

The five-Test match series between India and England is scheduled to start from June 20 and this will be team's first assignment after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.