Ravindra Jadeja, one of India’s most decorated all-rounders, has revealed his ambition to lead the Indian Test team—a role he considers the final milestone in his illustrious career. Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube show Kutti Stories with Ash, Jadeja was asked to name one goal he still wants to achieve before retiring.

Without hesitation, the 36-year-old from Jamnagar said, “Abhi toh ek hi cheez bachi hai, Test captaincy (Only one thing remains—Test captaincy). I’ve achieved everything else.”

Having played 80 Tests, 204 ODIs, and 74 T20Is, Jadeja has been an indispensable part of India’s setup across all formats. Despite his vast experience, he has never led the national team. The idea of captaining India in Tests, he said, would be a matter of immense pride.

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Ashwin, who announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2024, also never captained India despite a 15-year-long career. Both Jadeja and Ashwin have had brief stints as IPL captains—Ashwin with Punjab Kings and Jadeja with Chennai Super Kings—but with limited success.

The Test captaincy discussion gained momentum after Rohit Sharma retired from the format on May 7. Many have speculated that Shubman Gill could be groomed for the role, but Ashwin offered a different perspective.

“Everyone’s assuming Gill will take over, but Jasprit Bumrah is also a strong candidate,” Ravichandran Ashwin said in a separate discussion with former Tamil Nadu cricketer Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan. “And why do we overlook Ravindra Jadeja?”

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Ashwin suggested a transition plan where a younger player like Gill could serve as understudy to an experienced figure like Jadeja before taking over the reins. Whether selectors agree remains to be seen, but Jadeja has made his intent crystal clear.