Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday. It was a surprising announcement by him, who led India in the last series that India played in the format. Rohit’s retirement left a big void that the Indian cricket team needs to fill now. While young Shubman Gill is the frontrunner for the post, former India player Anil Kumble feels that Jasprit Bumrah should lead the team.

“Maybe just for this series (against England) go with Bumrah, and then see how his fitness is,” Kumble told ESPNcricinfo. “I know it’s not easy being a fast bowler. He’s had injuries, he was on a break after the Australia series, and is only returning in this IPL. But I’d still go with Bumrah.”

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Kumble admitted that it will not be possible for Bumrah to play all the five-Test matches. Notably, India’s desperate attempt to feature Bumrah in all the five Tests in the side’s last outing in Australia saw the pacer picking up an injury and missing a fair part of cricketing action. Hence, there is a huge need of a better workload management for Bumrah. “Whenever that happens, the vice-captain comes in and takes over,” Kumble said.

However, there are a few in the list – Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. Among them, Bumrah led the team in a couple of Tests during the tour of Australia as well. As of now, Rahul and Gill are front-runners due to vice-captain Bumrah’s fitness issues and workload management recently.

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Rohit Sharma, in the ODIs, has more than 11,000 runs and 32 centuries so far. He retired from Tests as India’s most prolific batter in the second half of his career, overall smashing 4301 runs in 67 Tests with 12 centuries and 18 half centuries at an average of 40.57 as well.