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After leading India to their only win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 on Australian soil, Jasprit Bumrah may lose vice-captaincy role for Test series in England. Bumrah not being vice-captain on England tour has got nothing to do with his leadership. It is likely to be happen as Bumrah may not play all five matches.
“We want a player who will be available for all five Test matches and he should be given the vice-captain’s role. Bumrah won’t be playing all five matches, so we don’t want to appoint different deputies for different games. It will be better that the captain and vice-captain should be certain and play all five Tests,” the sources told the Indian Express.
As per the English daily, the selectors are pondering over two options to be Rohit Sharma's deputy. The only captaincy candidate in his 30s is KL Rahul but he is unlikely to get the leadership role. On the other hand, a 23-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal is too young for the role. The two players who can be named vice-captain are 25-year-old Shubman Gill and 27-year-old Rishabh Pant.
Bumrah hurt his lower back in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. It resulted in him missing the limited-overs series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He missed a few games of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as well.
Shastri's advice to team management
Last month, former head coach Ravi Shastri asked the team management to be 'very careful' with Bumrah on the England tour. He understands the temptation but doesn't want Bumrah to play all the matches on the tour.
"I would be very, very careful [with Bumrah]," Shastri said while speaking in The ICC Review.
"I would give him two Test matches at a time and then wait for the break. Ideally, make him play four. You'll be tempted to make him play five if he starts off in a great manner, but it's how his body pulls up. He should be given the first opportunity to say, 'Yes, a little, [I am] feeling the niggle. A break would help.' Give him that break."
After the IPL 2025, India will head to England. The five-Test series will begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.
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