As India gears up for their high-stakes Test tour of England, the spotlight has shifted sharply to team selection and, more intriguingly, the choice of the next Test captain. With stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from the format, a new chapter begins—and former chief selector MSK Prasad has weighed in with strong opinions.

According to Prasad, if he had the reins, he would hand the captaincy to Jasprit Bumrah without hesitation. Despite murmurs around Bumrah’s recurring back issues and the challenges of managing his workload across a grueling five-Test series, Prasad believes the speedster has already proven his mettle as a leader.

“Jasprit Bumrah would be my captain. He’s shown great leadership qualities and has earned the respect of the team,” MSK Prasad told PTI. “But if there are fitness concerns, my alternative captain would be KL Rahul.”

WATCH – Pat Cummins Delights Fans With Mitchell Marsh Placard Moment After SRH vs LSG Clash

Bumrah, currently India’s Test vice-captain, is unlikely to play all five matches in England due to workload management. That makes Rahul—a seasoned campaigner and successful stand-in captain—a strong backup option. Prasad also proposed that Shubman Gill be groomed for future leadership by appointing him vice-captain.

Looking ahead to the England conditions, MSK Prasad emphasized the need for a left-arm swing bowler and backed Arshdeep Singh for the job. “If we’re picking a 16-man squad, I’d want Arshdeep in there. His skillset suits English conditions perfectly,” he said.

He also sees a big role for the versatile Nitish Reddy and wants KL Rahul batting at No. 4, with Abhimanyu Easwaran as the reserve opener. With leadership transition underway and a demanding tour ahead, India’s selections over the coming days could shape the team’s future for years to come.

WATCH – Suryakumar Yadav Reveals The Story Behind His Favorite Shots and What Fuels His Instinct

Prasad’s squad blends youth and experience with a strong pace attack and a dynamic batting lineup. His 16-man squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (vc), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (capt), Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, and Abhimanyu Easwaran.