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India Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Start of Gambhir era: R Ashwin on Tests post Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli retirements
Former India cricketer R Ashwin believes Indian Test cricket has officially entered a new phase — the Gautam Gambhir era — following the back-to-back retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. As the team gears up for a five-match Test series against England starting June 20, Ashwin said the transition will be marked by significant changes in personnel and on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ashwin noted that Gambhir's first real challenge as head coach will be to guide a relatively inexperienced Test side on an overseas tour. With no Rohit or Kohli to anchor the batting line-up, and with several young faces pushing for inclusion, Ashwin said this team will look 'completely transformed.''I would definitely say it is the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era. The team that Gambhir will take to England for five Tests will be a completely new team, a completely transformed team where Jasprit Bumrah would possibly be the senior-most player,' Ashwin said. India's leadership void is another critical issue that Ashwin touched upon. With both senior players stepping away within five days of each other, the selectors and BCCI now have to decide who leads India in the long format. Ashwin named Jasprit Bumrah as a deserving candidate, having previously led India in the 2022 Birmingham Test and again during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Under Bumrah's captaincy, India registered their biggest-ever win by runs in Australia — a 295-run hammering of the hosts in Adelaide — and also drew the Sydney Test when Rohit Sharma was he is also an option for captaincy (role). I believe he deserves the captaincy, but the Indian selectors will take a decision based on his physical capacity,' he recent reports suggest that Bumrah might not be keen on taking over the Test captaincy full-time, primarily due to workload concerns. That opens the door for Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, both of whom are seen as long-term leadership options. Gill has been vice-captain in white-ball cricket and showed promise as Gujarat Titans captain in IPL 2025. Pant, meanwhile, brings energy and tactical sharpness, having led Delhi Capitals till last year and then Lucknow Super Giants this season in the India's disastrous Test whitewash at home against New Zealand last year, followed by their defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025 — which cost them a place in the World Test Championship Final — the BCCI responded by sacking a major portion of Gautam Gambhir's coaching staff, including assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. As a result, there is now significant pressure on Gambhir to deliver a positive outcome in the upcoming England Test India stepping into a new Test era under Gambhir, the upcoming England tour will likely set the tone for what lies Watch
India Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Make Jasprit Bumrah Test captain: Sunil Gavaskar rubbishes workload concerns
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has backed Jasprit Bumrah to take over as India's next Test captain, brushing aside concerns over the pacer's workload. Gavaskar's remarks come at a time when the selectors are preparing to name Rohit Sharma's successor, with India scheduled to play a five-match away Test series against England starting June both Rohit and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket in the span of five days, the leadership mantle is up for grabs. Bumrah, who has previously led India in the red-ball format, has emerged as a top contender due to his recent performances and calm leadership style. Gavaskar believes that as a fast bowler, Bumrah is best equipped to manage his own workload and make on-field decisions that align with his physical better to know what is the workload for himself than himself? If you appoint somebody else, they would always want an extra over from Bumrah. If he is your No. 1 bowler, he will himself know that 'yes, this is the time I must take a break'. To me, it has to be Jasprit Bumrah only. I know all these kind of speculation going around his workload and all that. Give it to him so that he knows how many overs to bowl, when to take him off, when to sort of rest. That would be the best thing," Gavaskar said. "He (Bumrah) may not have to miss a Test match. If you give it him, he might know when to stop before his body starts to crumble. For me, give it to him. After the first Test, there is an eight-day gap. There's enough time to recover. Then, there are two back-to-back Test matches. That's fine. There's then another gap. If you give him the captaincy, he will be the best person to know when to bowl," he had earlier captained India during the 2022 Birmingham Test against England and again during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25. Under his leadership, India secured a commanding 295-run win over Australia in Adelaide—their biggest win by runs in Australia—and he also led the side in the Sydney Test earlier this year when Rohit sat recent reports have suggested that Bumrah may have ruled himself out of contention for the role, citing the difficulty of committing to all five Tests due to workload management. The selectors are now reportedly considering Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant as the primary candidates for the position. Gill, who already serves as vice-captain in white-ball cricket, has impressed with his leadership in IPL 2025 before the tournament's this, Gavaskar remains firm in his stance that Bumrah should be handed the responsibility. He believes that giving the captaincy to the pacer would allow him to better judge when to push and when to pull back, both for himself and the the BCCI selection meeting expected soon, the leadership question remains wide Watch
