Bumrah Jasprit file photo.© AFP
According to Sky Sports News, Jasprit Bumrah has retired from the race to become the next test captain of India. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have now become the best candidates to replace Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from the test cricket. Although Bumrah was largely considered to be the favorite for the role, he informed the selectors that he cannot commit to playing the five games in long series of tests due to workload problems. India should play five tests against England, selectors prefer someone who can play the whole series consistently.
With Bumrah out of the race, selectors will probably choose between Gill and Pant for the captain. Whatever the player who is not selected as captain should be appointed vice-captain. The official announcement, as well as the Indian team for the England series, is expected by May 24.
In another major development, Sky Sports News reports that Virat Kohli informed the Cricket Control Council in India (BCCI) of his decision to withdraw from the test cricket before the next England series. Although the BCCI did not publish a public declaration, he also denied the report, according to Sky Sports News.
It is understood that Kohli told the chief selector Ajit Agarkar in April about his intention to move away before the start of the new cycle of the world testing championship in June. Agarkar and another BCCI official planned to meet Kohli again, but this meeting is currently uncertain due to the rise in tensions on the Indian-Pakistani border. The government has advised citizens of interurban travel.
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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