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"Has Bumrah Ruled Himself Out?" Ex-Player Fumes Amid Talks Of Gill Becoming Test Captain

Rajgeeta Yadav

Jasprit Bumrah [Source: @sujeetsuman1991/X.com]Jasprit Bumrah [Source: @sujeetsuman1991/X.com]

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar recently stirred up the debate over India’s next Test captain. While some reports suggest that Shubman Gill is the top contender for the role, Manjrekar has voiced his support for Jasprit Bumrah, despite concerns over Bumrah’s past injuries.

Sanjay Manjrekar Backs Jasprit Bumrah For Test Captaincy

Manjrekar questioned the logic behind ruling Bumrah out of the captaincy race. He pointed out that no one has confirmed whether Bumrah himself has refused the role or if he’s ruled out of the upcoming England series. 

“Has Bumrah said he won’t captain India? Or has he ruled himself out of the England series? Then why are we discussing who will captain India?” Manjrekar posted on social media.

Manjrekar Finds Unfair To Dismiss Bumrah

The debate comes after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket, leaving a big gap in leadership. Gill and Bumrah are seen as the leading contenders, but many believe Gill has an advantage due to his consistent fitness. However, Manjrekar finds it unfair to dismiss Bumrah based on his injury history alone.

He drew a comparison to Rohit Sharma’s captaincy during India’s tour of Australia, where Rohit led in only three of the five Tests due to fitness issues. Manjrekar argued that if availability concerns didn’t stop Rohit from being captain, why should they affect Bumrah’s chances?


Gill, at 25, has proven his leadership skills by guiding the Gujarat Titans to the top of the IPL table. On the other hand, Bumrah, now 31, has already captained India in a few matches, including the rescheduled fifth Test against England in 2022 and two Tests in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. 

Despite his return to cricket after a major back surgery, doubts over his long-term fitness linger.

The captaincy debate has intensified as India prepare to face England from June 20 to August 4. Manjrekar remains vocal in his support for Bumrah, challenging the narrative that fitness alone should determine the next Test captain.