A significant revelation has emerged from last week’s meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which was attended by Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Discussions about Rohit’s successor in the leadership role have reportedly intensified, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the race to take over. However, Rohit is said to have informed the selectors and BCCI officials that he wishes to continue as captain in both Tests and ODIs for a few more months before likely ending his international career.
According to a report in Dainik Jagran, Rohit is not ready to relinquish the captaincy just yet, despite Bumrah being considered the frontrunner for the role in Test cricket. The 36-year-old skipper, who has been grappling with a dip in form recently, has reportedly conveyed that he is unlikely to continue playing internationally after the Champions Trophy later this year. He has also urged the BCCI to identify a suitable successor for both Test and ODI captaincy during this time.
If things proceed as planned, Rohit Sharma may retire from international cricket after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, the BCCI and the selection committee remain cautious about naming Bumrah as the full-time captain. His injury-prone career has raised concerns, with selectors wary of overburdening him. As a result, the search for capable vice-captaincy options to assist Bumrah is also underway.
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The management reportedly prefers a single captain for both Test and ODI formats. Although the idea of appointing Suryakumar Yadav as the ODI captain was considered, his absence from India’s 50-over team currently rules him out. Bumrah’s dual captaincy could benefit the team, but his recurring injuries remain a challenge. Consequently, the names of Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal have surfaced as potential vice-captaincy candidates.