Ravi Shastri has spoken extensively since the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last week. The two senior players of Team India have now retired from Test cricket after retiring from T20I cricket last year, after the T20 World Cup.
With India set to play a Test series against England, the BCCI has to find an ideal replacement for Rohit as the next Indian Test skipper. They also need to find Kohli's ideal replacement at number four.
With Team India in a transitional phase across formats, Shubman Gill is leading the race to become India's next Test skipper. Rishabh Pant is in the race as well. However, several former Indian cricketers have suggested to not name Gill as the next Test skipper as he is inexperienced.
Also Read: "He Is A Match-Winner" - Ravi Shastri On Rohit Sharma After His Test Retirement
Advertisement
You Will Lose Him As A Bowler - Ravi Shastri On Jasprit Bumrah As Tets Captain
There have been suggestions about Jasprit Bumrah being named as the next Indian Test skipper. His recent success in the format and his overall experience and status in modern cricket give them the belief that he can take the Test team forward. Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri has given his suggestion on Jasprit Bumrah as well. Bumrah has led India in three Tests so far, with the Perth Test win coming under him.
Shastri discussed a few names who can become the next India Test captain, urging the selectors not to name Bumrah as the captain. He has requested the management to think about the future and not burden Bumrah with captaincy.
"See, for me, Jasprit would have been the obvious choice after Australia. "But I do not want Jasprit to be made captain and then you lose him as a bowler," he added as quoted by the ICC.
Shastri also spoke about Bumrah's back injury in the Sydney Test that kept him out of the game till he returned in the T20 World Cup.
"I think he (Bumrah) has to take his body one game at a time. He is coming back now after a serious injury. "He will have played IPL cricket, which is four-over cricket. Now will come the test of bowling 10 overs, 15 overs. And the last thing you want is some pressure on his mind being captain as well," Shastri added saying.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Career Stats in Test Cricket
Advertisement
Shastri Backs Gill, Pant As Test Captain Candidates
Unlike a few others, Shastri has backed Gill and also Pant to become the next India Test captain.
"You groom somebody, and I would say Shubman's looked very good. Give him the opportunity. He is 25, 26 years of age, even give him time. There is Rishabh as well. I think these two are the obvious ones I am looking at because of their age, and they have a decade ahead of them. So, let them learn," Shastri said.
He further added, saying that with Kohli announcing his Test retirement, India has to look to the future, justifying his call to name Gill or Pant as the next India captain.
Also Read: “He’s Mentally Fried and Overcooked” - Ravi Shastri Drops Bombshell on Virat Kohli's Test Retirement
