Ravi Shastri names his captaincy candidate; Advises not to Rush this Star

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has voiced his opinion on the next Test captain of the Indian cricket team. With Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket, the captaincy is now open. Shastri believes Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are strong candidates to lead India, while cautioning against giving Jasprit Bumrah the extra responsibility of captaincy.

Shastri Warns Against Putting Pressure on Bumrah

Speaking on the ICC Review podcast with Sanjana Ganesan, Bumrah’s wife, Shastri explained why Bumrah should focus on his fitness and bowling rather than captaincy. “See, for me, Jasprit would have been the obvious choice after Australia. But I don’t want Jasprit to be made captain and then you lose him as a bowler,” Shastri said.

He added, “He has to take his body one game at a time. He’s coming back after a serious injury. He’s played IPL cricket, which is four-over cricket. Now comes the test of bowling 10 or 15 overs in Tests. The last thing you want is some pressure on his mind being captain as well.”

Bumrah led India in the first and fifth Tests against Australia but had to miss part of the last match in Sydney due to a back injury. His fitness remains a concern for selectors and fans alike.

Gill and Pant: The Future Leaders

Shastri praised Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant for their captaincy experience and talent. “You groom somebody, and I would say Shubman’s looked very good. Give him the opportunity. He’s 25, 26 years old, give him time. There’s Rishabh as well,” he said.

“These two are the obvious ones I’m looking at because of their age. They have a decade ahead of them. Let them learn. They’ve got experience captaining their IPL franchises, and that makes a difference,” Shastri added.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the new Test captain and the squad for the upcoming England series next week.

This leadership transition marks a new chapter in Indian Test cricket as senior players move on and younger stars step up.

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