Jasprit Bumrah has revealed that he declined the opportunity to captain the Indian Test team due to workload management concerns. This decision was communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during the Indian Premier League (IPL), well before Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket. With India preparing for a high-stakes Test series against England, Bumrah opened up about his evolving role within the team.
In an interview with Dinesh Karthik on Sky Sports, Bumrah disclosed that the BCCI had considered him for the captaincy role following Rohit Sharma's decision to retire from the format in May 2025. However, Bumrah chose to step aside, prioritizing his bowling responsibilities and long-term fitness. Ultimately, Shubman Gill was named the captain of the Indian Test side for the upcoming series against England, commencing on June 20 in Leeds.
Bumrah explained that his decision stemmed from concerns about managing his workload across a gruelling five-Test match series. "Before Rohit and Virat (Kohli) retired during the IPL, I had spoken to the BCCI about my workload going forward in a five-Test match series. I've spoken to the people who have managed my back. I've spoken to the surgeon as well, who's always spoken to me about how smart you have to be about the workloads," Bumrah stated. He emphasized the need to be "a little smarter" regarding his physical well-being to ensure longevity in his career.
Acknowledging that the BCCI was indeed considering him for a leadership role, Bumrah felt it was not fair to the team if he couldn't commit to playing all the Test matches. He highlighted the instability it would create if he were to lead in only some of the matches, with another player taking over for the rest. "BCCI was looking at me as the leadership role, but I have to say no to them because it's not ideal when someone is leading for 3 Tests then some others have to lead rest of the tests so it's not fair for the team as I wanted to put team first," Bumrah explained.
Bumrah, currently the ICC's No.1 ranked Test bowler, had previously captained India in two fixtures during the Border-Gavaskar Series against Australia. He emphasized the importance of continuity and team stability as India embarks on their next ICC World Test Championship cycle, starting with the series against England. He said that he had worked very hard for the captaincy but sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture, and that he loves cricket more than captaincy, so he wants to contribute more as a cricketer and to the Indian team as a player.
While acknowledging that captaincy "meant a lot" to him, Bumrah reiterated his commitment to serving Indian cricket in the best way possible. Even if being there as a player offers a lot more, just not as a captain. Bumrah stated that he is there for Gill whenever he needs him in whatever capacity. He doesn't want to jump in, but if he sees something, he will give Gill a quiet word.
Bumrah's decision underscores the increasing importance of workload management in modern cricket, especially for fast bowlers who are prone to injuries. By prioritizing his fitness and availability, Bumrah aims to contribute effectively to the Indian team across all formats for an extended period. He also stated that he does not want to be in a situation where he has to abruptly go away from this format, and wants the team to go in a direction where they look long term.
