Sanjay Manjrekar Goes To War With BCCI For Jasprit Bumrah's Captaincy Announcement

Jasprit Bumrah not being in contention for India’s Test captaincy has stunned former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket, media sites claim that Shubman Gill is a serious contender with support from the BCCI.

Cricket analysts supported Bumrah as Rohit Sharma's replacement in Test cricket after India's defeat in the Border-Gavaskar series.

Dearth of leadership options after Rohit-Kohli's retirements

Bumrah presented a strong argument for becoming the captain. For the five-match Test series against England that starts next month, India has not yet named a new captain.

Jasprit Bumrah has captained India thrice. He led India once in England in 2022 and twice in the recent BGT 2024-25 in Perth and Sydney. India lost the Birmingham Test to England and the Sydney Test to Australia, but won the Perth Test by 295 runs to give a great start to India.

"I Am Shocked”- Sanjay Manjrekar on Jasprit Bumrah being snubbed from India Test captaincy

Sanjay Manjrekar questioned why, if he isn't being considered to lead the team, Jasprit Bumrah was named vice-captain for the Australia series. He criticized the screening panel, which was led by Ajit Agarkar, for the discrepancy.

"I am shocked that we are looking at any other option other than Bumrah as Test captain! Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice captain carefully," Manjrekar wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

I am shocked that we are looking at any other option other than Bumrah as Test captain! Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice captain carefully.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 13, 2025

Reports have suggested that the only thing keeping BCCI from naming Jasprit Bumrah captain or the vice-captain is his fitness. Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Tests in England to keep his workload minimal. And if he cannot handle the stress of five Test matches, BCCI is unlikely to name someone captain who cannot be a regular in the Test team.

Sunil Gavaskar and Ravichandran Ashwin back Jasprit Bumrah as India Test captain

In an interview with Sports Today, Sunil Gavaskar downplayed worries regarding Jasprit Bumrah's workload. Gavaskar noted that Bumrah would be in a better position to handle his own workload in his role as captain.

"Jasprit Bumrah for me... if you appoint somebody else, they will always want an extra over from Bumrah because he's your number one bowler capable of taking a wicket any time, you want that extra over."

"But Bumrah being the captain himself would know that 'look, this is the time that I must take a break. Yes, I've got a wicket in my previous over, but my body says to me that I need a break'," Gavaskar said.

Jasprit Bumrah is probably going to be the most seasoned player on the forthcoming tour of England, according to Ravichandran Ashwin, who made this statement on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.

Although he thinks Bumrah is a worthy contender for captaincy, he clarified that the selectors will ultimately make the choice.

"Bumrah is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will make a decision based on his physical capacity," Ashwin said on his YouTube show 'Ash Ki Baat'.

Also Read: India Squad For England Tests After Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma’s Retirement