Don't thrust Test captaincy on Shubman Gill, Bumrah best option: Kris Srikkanth

Many seasoned players have left the Indian Test team, which is undergoing a major leadership transition. The primary task facing the national selectors is deciding who would lead the squad after Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin recently announced their retirement from the game's longest format. 

Since Rohit Sharma announced his retirement on May 7, speculation about who will be India's next Test captain has centred more on the announcement's timing than the candidates themselves. Although many people thought Jasprit Bumrah, India's vice-captain and the man behind their lone victory in the most recent Australia series, was the front-runner, there are rumours that the BCCI has chosen Shubman Gill instead.

Kris Srikkanth, a former Indian opener, is perplexed by the BCCI's choice to favour Gill as Rohit's heir apparent to the Test crown. According to Srikkanth, India shouldn't put Gill under any leadership duties because he hasn't solidified his position in the Test team.

Bumrah's workload worries were rejected by Srikkanth, who suggested that KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant may take over as vice captain in the event that Bumrah is unable to play a test or two while on tour.

"Who’s a ready-made captaincy candidate now? Shubman Gill? I don’t think he is still a certainty in the XI,” Srikkanth said.

“You’re not handing the captaincy to KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant. Otherwise, you give it to Jasprit Bumrah.

“The other choice is Bumrah. You say, ‘Boss, you’re the captain’. And whichever Test match he doesn’t play, you give KL Rahul the responsibility.

Srikkanth, meanwhile, lavished Virat Kohli with praise, claiming that the 36-year-old was among the greatest Test captains in history.

If he were the head selector now, the Tamil Nadu player claimed he would have persuaded Kohli to captain the Test team during the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.

He has also backed Sai Sudharsan to be a part of the squad and possibly find a place as the opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. His consistency has been the highlight for him so far, along with the technique he plays with.

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