When selectors picked Shubhman Gill as Rohit Sharma’s successor as Indian Test captain, following the 38-year-old’s retirement from the format ahead of the upcoming five-match series in England, plenty of questions were raised as to whether Jasprit Bumrah was overlooked for the role.
Speaking for the first time ahead of the England tour, Bumrah revealed that even before Rohit and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from Tests, he had informed the BCCI not to consider him for leadership roles because of a long-standing back issue that requires him to manage his workload.
Bumrah, who has captained in three Tests in a stop-gap arrangement in the past, has shown tactical acumen that can be considered for the long run. But following a relapse of his back injury during the series in Australia in January, the fast bowler explained how the succession decision panned out, as at one point, the BCCI was seriously looking at him for captaincy.
“There’s no fancy stories to it. There is no controversy or there are no headlining statements that I was sacked or I was not looked after,” Bumrah told Sky Sports. “Before Rohit and Virat retired during the IPL, I had spoken to the BCCI. I had discussed my workload going forward in a five Test match series. I spoke to the surgeon, who told me to be smart about the workload. So I did speak to him and then we came to a conclusion that I have to be a little more smart. So then I called the BCCI and said I don’t want to be looked at for a leadership role. Because I won’t be able to play all matches in a five -match series. So yes, the BCCI was looking at me, but then I had to say no, because it’s not fair for the team as well as you know in a five-match series, three matches somebody else is leading, two matches, somebody else. It’s not fair on the team,” Bumrah explained.
The premier pacer who was candid enough to admit that he had dreams of leading the team, revealed that if he pushed himself too hard for the role, then it had the potential to cut short his long-format career. “The captaincy is a position, but you always have leaders in the team. And I wanted to do that. And obviously, if I’m not careful, I don’t know about the future. I don’t want to be in a situation where, abruptly, I have to go away from this format. So I just thought that for continuity — and it is only fair on the team — they (think) long term and I could help in whatever way I can. But yeah, captaincy meant a lot. I had worked very hard for it. But unfortunately, sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture. I love cricket more than captaincy,” Bumrah said.
Given the workload management he has put in place, Bumrah also revealed that it won’t be possible for him to play more than three Tests at this stage. But any call on his inclusion will depend on other external factors as well. “Three Test matches is what I’m looking at. And obviously, the number is not decided. First is definitely on. Yes, that is going to happen. Rest we see how things are, what is the workload, what are the scenarios going on. But yeah, exactly three Test matches are what I can manage at this moment. And I don’t want to be in a desperate scenario,” the 31-year-old added.
After walking away during the final Test at Sydney, Bumrah missed the Champions Trophy before making a return during the middle of the IPL. The Leeds Test would be his first international fixture since the first week of January and Bumrah explained how he has been preparing for the Test series.
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“I played in an IPL, a hectic IPL. My body is good. I always try my best to look after my body and do everything in my power. Feeling good, the weather is good. It was hot in India. Now, we are experiencing a different weather. So, it is all about workload. You don’t want to have a big spike. So even during the IPL, we had spoken to the trainers and physios. What do we have to do? How do we slowly increase our weekly workload? We were doing that in the IPL.
“We don’t just bowl four overs. We bowl six to eight overs. Then we have a weekly load. In warm-ups, even before the game, we try to squeeze in those overs. So eventually, by the time we reach here, we are at a decent level. And from here, we still have some time. So we keep building it up. So by the time the Test matches come, you are physically ready and the spike is not too much. And the body is used to bowling a lot more overs,” Bumrah explained.