Bumrah or Gill? BCCI May Have Found the Ideal Test Captaincy Formula for England Tour

With Rohit Sharma retired, the Test captaincy debate intensifies. Wasim Jaffer proposes a rotational strategy with Jasprit Bumrah as captain and Shubman Gill as his deputy — offering the BCCI a balanced, forward-looking solution.

New Delhi | May 17, 2025:
As the BCCI considers its next red-ball leader following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket, former India opener Wasim Jaffer has floated a pragmatic solution that could settle the growing debate between Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill.

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Jaffer, who played 31 Tests for India, recommended that Bumrah should be the primary Test captain, while Gill be groomed as vice-captain, stepping in whenever the pacer needs rest.

“I think Bumrah is an automatic captaincy choice, unless he doesn’t want the responsibility. He should be the captain with Gill as VC—stepping in whenever Bumrah needs rest. This way Gill could also be groomed without the pressure of being the full-time captain,” Jaffer wrote on X.

The five-match Test series against England, beginning June 20 at Headingley, is India’s next big red-ball challenge. The team has not won a Test series in England since 2007 under Rahul Dravid’s leadership.

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Bumrah’s leadership credentials are proven — most notably, his role in India’s historic win at Perth in the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, his fitness concerns remain a factor. A recurring back injury ruled him out of the second innings during the final Australia Test and also forced him to miss the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai.

Gill, currently leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025 season, is seen as a long-term candidate. The BCCI is also reportedly weighing options including KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Rahul has prior Test captaincy experience, having led India to a 2-0 series win in Bangladesh in 2022.

India’s upcoming Test series in England includes matches at Headingley (June 20-24), Edgbaston (July 2-6), Lord’s (July 10-14), Old Trafford (July 23-27), and The Oval (July 31–August 4).

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With strategic rotation and grooming of younger leaders, India may finally break its 17-year winless streak on English soil — and the Bumrah-Gill captaincy tandem might just be the ideal way forward.

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Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, India Test Captain, India vs England 2025, Rohit Sharma Retirement, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, BCCI, Wasim Jaffer, England Test Series, Indian Cricket Team, ICC Test Championship