Jasprit Bumrah Set to Replace Rohit Sharma as India’s Test Captain: Reports

The Indian team management has decided not to take any risk on Jasprit Bumrah for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 because they see him as the next Test captain for the Indian team. The BCCI's chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar had to make a tough call after the National Cricket Academy (NCA) team left the decision to him.

While Bumrah’s latest scan reports were clear, he wasn’t bowling at full speed yet. With the tournament just a week away, the selectors didn’t want to take any risks. The decision wasn’t just about protecting Bumrah’s skills as a fast bowler he’s widely considered the best bowler across all formats right now but also because of his leadership potential.

According to the reports from PTI, The regular skipper Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be picked for the future Tests, and the star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah the current vice-captain of the Indian Test team will take over as Test captain from the England tour in June-July this year.

"It is understood that the main bone of contention was that Bumrah is yet to start bowling full tilt and those in the know of things said that it is very difficult to get match-fit in such a short time."

“Rather, he can come back for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and then lead India in England as Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be picked for Tests again,” a source said to PTI.

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Bumrah has captained India in three Test matches. The first time was during the final Test against England in Birmingham in 2022 when Rohit was down with Covid. Although India lost the match, Bumrah showed signs of being a capable leader.

His next opportunity came when Rohit returned late to Australia due to the birth of his second child. Bumrah led India to a win in the first Border-Gavaskar Test in Perth, which was India’s only Test victory in an otherwise disappointing series.

Bumrah again took over as captain in Sydney when Rohit made the rare decision to drop himself from the playing XI. Unfortunately, Bumrah got injured after bowling just 10 overs, and India lost the match, conceding the series 1-3.

Why the Captaincy Change?

Rohit Sharma had a tough year in Test cricket in 2024. He averaged below 25, had more single-digit scores than ever, and struggled with form since India’s T20 World Cup win. In his last eight Tests, he scored just 164 runs with an average of 10.9.

India lost all six Tests under Rohit’s captaincy between late 2024 and early 2025, including their first-ever home whitewash against New Zealand and three Test defeats in Australia. His scores in those Australia matches were dismal: 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6, 10, and 3.

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