Former India head coach Anil Kumble wants Jasprit Bumrah to be the next Test captain as Rohit Sharma announced retirement from the longest format of the game ahead of the upcoming five-Test match series against England. Rohit, who made his Test debut in November 2013, took his social media to officially announce his retirement.
Soon after Rohit's retirement, there are reports claiming that young batter Shubman Gill will be his successor to lead India in whites. However, Kumble who is the highest wicket-taker for India in the longest format of the game, believes that speedster Jasprit Bumrah should lead India. He further explained that Bumrah is a true leader and he captained India in Australia in Rohit's absence during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
"Jasprit Bumrah is a natural leader. He led India when Rohit wasn't available in the first test match against Australia, so I would certainly think that it's going to be Jasprit" said Kumble on Espncricinfo.
Rohit who made his Test debut against the West Indies, represented India in 67 red-ball matches. He scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, with 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score of 212 came during a memorable home series against South Africa in 2019. He finishes as India's 16th-highest run-getter in the longest format of the game.
Rohit captained India in 24 Tests, winning 12, losing nine, and drawing three, with a win percentage of exactly 50. Rohit Sharma-led India featured in the World Test Championship Final (WTC) 2023 in England, where Australia defeated the Men in Blue. However, Rohit's final stages of his red-ball career were marred by poor form and team results.
India's next Test assignment will be the upcoming five-Test match series in England which is scheduled to start from June 20, 2025.