Sunil Gavaskar names THIS star player as next captain of Team India, it's not Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant or Hardik Pandya

The recent 3-1 Test series loss to Australia has spurred debate on who will be India's next Test captain. Rohit Sharma, the current captain, missed the previous Test at the SCG earlier this month owing to batting issues.

According to reports, former captain Virat Kohli wants to return to Test cricket, but the current frontrunner appears to be Jasprit Bumrah, the team's leading bowler. Sunil Gavaskar, an Indian cricket icon, has also urged Bumrah to take over as captain.

Gavaskar has commended Bumrah's leadership abilities and feels that the talented fast bowler is ready to succeed Rohit Sharma as captain of the Indian cricket team, particularly after his impressive performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Bumrah delivered one of the finest bowling performances by an overseas pacer in Australia, claiming 32 wickets in five Tests. He also led India to their lone victory in the series, a convincing triumph in the opening Test at Perth's Optus Stadium.

“He could be the next man. I think he will be the next man,” Gavaskar shared on Channel 7. “He leads from the front and carries an air of leadership that doesn’t put undue pressure on others. With Bumrah, you can see that he expects everyone to fulfill their role, but he doesn’t seem to pressurize anybody.”

"He's got a very good air about him, the air of a leader...

"I think he was absolutely brilliant, and I won't be surprised if he takes over very soon."

Sunil Gavaskar on the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah  pic.twitter.com/s3TZnoKquR

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 8, 2025

The batting legend emphasized Bumrah's significant impact on his teammates, especially the fast bowlers.

“With the pacers, he has been absolutely brilliant, standing at mid-off or mid-on, always ready to provide guidance. His mentorship has been instrumental in helping bowlers like Mohammed Siraj grow. I won’t be surprised if he takes over the captaincy very soon,” former India captain added.

Bumrah made a huge contribution to the series, taking wickets at an outstanding average of 13.06 and a strike rate of 28.37. Unfortunately, an injury sustained during Australia's first innings at the SCG in the last Test prevented him from bowling on the vital third day, resulting in India's 3-1 series loss.

He was named captain for the last Test when Rohit Sharma, who was suffering with form, chose to sit out. However, a back spasm hampered his usefulness at a critical point. Throughout the series, Bumrah delivered notable performances, including an eight-wicket haul in Perth, six wickets in the first innings at the Gabba, and an almost match-winning stint on the fourth afternoon of the Boxing Day test at the MCG. In the series decider at the SCG, he dismissed Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne early in Australia's first innings but was forced to leave the field after midday on the second day.

Bumrah was named Player of the Series in recognition of his outstanding performance, cementing his position as a leader and one of the world's top fast bowlers.

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