Consecutive Test series losses against New Zealand and Australia have intensified concerns about the future of India’s red-ball cricket. The lean patch for skipper Rohit Sharma, coupled with underwhelming results, has created urgency for decisive action. Among the names floated as Rohit’s successor in Test cricket is India’s pace-bowling spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah.

However, former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist voiced concerns about Bumrah taking on the full-time captaincy. Gilchrist suggested that the role might overwhelm Bumrah and hinted that a return to Virat Kohli as captain wouldn’t be surprising.

“I’m not sure Bumrah should be the full-time Test captain—it might be too demanding for him. If they go back to Virat, I wouldn’t be shocked. I think he might even be open to the idea. But honestly, I haven’t given much thought to who should take over,” Adam Gilchrist said on Club Prairie Fire.

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Meanwhile, former England skipper Michael Vaughan advocated for grooming Shubman Gill as a future leader. Vaughan emphasized the importance of Gill translating his immense potential into consistent Test performances.

“I’d like to see someone like Shubman Gill as the vice-captain. Mark Howard calls him ‘the elegant one,’ but elegance alone won’t build a Test career. He needs to turn those stylish 20s and 30s into match-defining scores and average over 45, which I believe he’s capable of doing,” Michael Vaughan remarked.

Interestingly, Bumrah had a brief stint as captain during the series opener against Australia in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His leadership was widely praised, especially for his clever use of bowlers and sharp field adjustments tailored to specific batters and situations.

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Jasprit Bumrah’s tactical acumen shone as India claimed a commanding 295-run victory in Perth, taking an early lead in the series. With the team’s next red-ball assignment months away, the debate over India’s future Test leadership remains open. Decisions in this regard could shape the team’s trajectory for years to come.