Jasprit Bumrah confirms BCCI’s interest to have him tested the captain, but he refused

There were a lot of speculations doing the rounds regarding India’s Test captaincy. Jasprit Bumrah was the clear favourite, having led the team in Australia. Even former players wanted the fast bowler to lead India. In fact, even the BCCI was considering Bumrah for the role, but he ruled himself out of the race. Shubman Gill became the new Test captain. While many thought that it was the BCCI which made the call, Bumrah has cleared the air ahead of the IND vs ENG Test series.

In a conversation with former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik, Jasprit Bumrah explained why he did not become the Test captain. With recurring back injuries, Bumrah could play the five-match Test series. He could only play three of them in England. Hence, he decided to pull out of the race so that Team India would not suffer.

There are no fancy stories to it, no controversies or no headlining statements, or I was sacked or I was not looked after. Before Rohit and Virat retired during the IPL, I had spoken to the BCCI about my workload in a five-match Test series. I called the BCCI and told them that I do not want to be looked at in a leadership role,” Jasprit Bumrah told Dinesh Karthik in a Sky Sports Cricket interview.

Bumrah’s history of injuries

With two back surgeries for a stress fracture, Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowling player in the world, is in a tight place. Another surgery could potentially end his cricket career forever. Before IPL 2025, Bumrah missed two months of action when he recovered from another back injury. He missed the ICC Champions trophy while India has raised the trophy without him. Thus, Bumrah consulted the surgeon and the physiotherapists to conclude that he would not be able to play five tests in England.

“”I had spoken to people who had managed my back (injury), including the surgeon as well. He always told me how smart I had to be on the workload. So, we came to the conclusion that I must be a little more intelligent. I will not be able to play all the test matches. Then BCCI looked at me for a leadership role. But I said, it’s not just for the team. You cannot have a captain for a series of five game tests and another for a series of tests of three or two games, “ Said Bumrah.

Bumrah led India in three tests, including two in Australia, winning the first test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy. However, despite being the favorite, he frightened his captain’s aspirations for the team.

The former India cricket player Yograj Singh blamed gymming for frequent injuries to cricket players, including Bumrah. The Pacer underwent its first stress fracture in 2019, excluding it for almost a year.

“”I’m shocked that cricket players go to the gymnasium. Today, young people go to the gymnasium. This is why we have injuries. I can say that about 30 to 40 years ago, injuries were zero. Because in cricket, you need a very flexible body similar to a gymnast. Do things with body weight such as pull-ups, pumps, sit-ups and the nucleus (work). But please, for the love of God, stop sending cricket players to the gymnasium“Yograj Singh at Interior sport In an exclusive conversation.