Gavaskar Calls Jasprit Bumrah A “Selfless Cricketer” As He Clears The Way For Shubman

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary former India cricketer, has shed light on the selection process that led to Shubman Gill’s appointment as the Test captain for the upcoming series against England. According to Gavaskar, the decision became notably easier for the selection committee due to the “selfless” gesture of Jasprit Bumrah, who reportedly informed them in advance about his potential unavailability for all five Tests due to his ongoing back concerns.

Shubman Gill, at just 25 years of age and with 32 Test appearances to his name, has an average of 35, a statistic that some might not typically associate with leadership. For a considerable period, Jasprit Bumrah was considered a likely successor to Rohit Sharma’s Test captaincy. However, the selection committee’s preference for a consistent captaincy throughout the series, rather than a rotational approach, steered them towards a player with assured availability for all five Tests.

In his column for a leading daily, Sunil Gavaskar elaborated on this, writing, “The fact that the total team-man and selfless cricketer named Jasprit Bumrah informed the selectors that since he may not be able to play all Tests because of his back issue, the selectors could zero in on Gill as the new India captain, made the selection even easier.”

Gavaskar further emphasized the supportive role Bumrah will likely play under Gill’s leadership, stating, “Make no mistake, Bumrah will be at hand for Gill to lean on and he will also undoubtedly lead the bowling group as they try and plot the English batters’ dismissals. The Indian team looks well balanced.” Gavaskar’s insights suggest that Bumrah’s thoughtful communication played a crucial role in streamlining the captaincy selection, allowing the team to move forward with a clear leader for the challenging England tour.