Former Indian spinner R Ashwin has expressed his disappointment over the likely appointment of Shubman Gill as India’s new Test captain for the upcoming tour of England. With Rohit Sharma retiring from Test cricket, the search for a new leader is underway. Reports suggest that the 25-year-old Gill is set to be preferred over Jasprit Bumrah, the current vice-captain.
The reason being cited is Shubman Gill’s age advantage and concern over Bumrah’s fitness. However, Ashwin, who recently retired from all formats of the game, voiced his strong disagreement. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said he was “very, very upset and disappointed” that Bumrah would not get the chance to lead the side. He described Bumrah as a “national treasure” and said he had been happy when Bumrah first got to captain the team.
Bumrah’s Experience and Performance Highlighted
Ashwin highlighted Bumrah’s past contributions and leadership experience. Bumrah has captained India in three Test matches, winning one of them. He notably led India to their only win in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia on Australian soil. Ashwin believes that Bumrah, given his performances and stature, deserved to be the automatic choice.
He also raised the point that the captain should be someone who is always guaranteed a spot in the playing XI. By this logic, he questioned the move to pick Gill, who hasn’t shown consistent form in Test matches so far. Ravichandran Ashwin even suggested another possible candidate—Ravindra Jadeja—emphasizing again that a captain should be an automatic selection for the team.
Shubman Gill’s Limited Test Leadership Role
While Gill has been groomed for leadership roles in white-ball cricket, including being named vice-captain in some series during 2024, his experience in Test leadership is limited. Despite being in the team during moments when both Rohit and Bumrah were unavailable, Gill was not chosen to lead the side; Virat Kohli took over instead.
This raises questions about Gill’s readiness for the role in the longer format. Additionally, Bumrah was named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2024, while Gill averages just 35 from 32 Test matches. Ashwin’s remarks reflect a broader concern about whether the captaincy decision is being driven by long-term planning or immediate performance and experience.
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