Jasprit Bumrah Reveals Why He Declined Team India's Test Captaincy

Can Shubman Gill Cement His Place as India's Test Captain? Know All About the Upcoming Ind-Eng Test Series

In a momentous revelation that has created waves throughout the cricketing fraternity, India's pace spearhead Bumrah has been astute enough to put forth the reasons behind his rejection to lead the Test team, a responsibility later taken over by the young prodigy Shubman Gill for the five-match series against England. The answers were time management and a wish for unbroken leadership. 

Bumrah Prioritized Fitness Over Captaincy

Speaking exclusively with Sky Sports, Bumrah said, "There is no fancy story or no controversy about why." He revealed that workload discussions started with the BCCI during the IPL itself, prior to the retirements of the great Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket.

"Before Rohit and Virat retired, during the IPL, I had discussed my workload with BCCI for a five-Test series," Bumrah said. "I have actually consulted a couple of people who have managed my back.

I have also had discussions with my surgeon, who always said that you have to be very smart about the workload." Then we came to a conclusion that I have to be a little smarter."

Team First: Bumrah's Fitness Priority

The pacer, with recurrent back injuries hampering his career in the last couple of years, stressed his availability in the long term for the team in all three formats. "I cannot commit to the acreages worked at Test captaincy from a long series, given I am not able to go ground-to-ground," he said.

"So then I called the BCCI and said I don't want to be looked at in a leadership role because I won't be able to give all the Test matches in a five-Test match series," Bumrah revealed. On a team-first approach, he further elaborated, "Yes, the BCCI was looking at me for leadership.

But then I had to say no, that it's not fair for the team as well to have a five-Test match series, three matches with somebody else leading, and two matches with somebody else leading. It's not fair to the team, and I always wanted to put the team first."

This decision by Bumrah brings into focus issues fast bowlers have of late taken up in managing their bodies under an increasingly packed international schedule. He felt leading India would be an honor, but his main focus was on his own fitness and performance as a bowler.

Was Prioritizing Cricket Over Captaincy Bumrah's Toughest Call?

"Captaincy meant a lot. I had worked very hard for it. But, unfortunately, there are times when you need to look at the bigger picture. I love cricket more than captaincy. So, I want to do more in cricket and contribute to the Indian team as a player," he said yet again, reiterating that he will serve the team as a player.

The revelation comes into the limelight after so much speculation regarding the Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma's retirement and Virat Kohli's earlier act of withdrawing himself from the longest format. Ultimately, Ajit Agarkar's selection committee went ahead and assigned the reins to Shubman Gill, heralding an era of modern Indian Test cricket.

This candid assessment by Bumrah highlights the position modern players find themselves in—the tussle between ambition and the demands of the physical nature of the game. He, however, is expected to play at least three Tests during the next series against England.