The decision to leave Jasprit Bumrah out of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad was not just about managing his workload—it was a strategic move for the future. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly grooming the star pacer as the next Test captain, making his long-term fitness a top priority.
Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar faced a tough call when the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team, led by Nitin Patel, presented their assessment. While Bumrah’s latest scans showed no alarming issues, the report highlighted that he had yet to regain full bowling intensity. With the Champions Trophy just around the corner, the selectors and team management chose not to risk their premier fast bowler.
Bumrah’s exclusion, however, isn’t just about his skills with the ball—his leadership potential is a major factor. Reports suggest that the BCCI has all but finalized him as India’s next Test captain. With Rohit Sharma unlikely to be considered for Test cricket moving forward, Bumrah—currently the Test vice-captain—is expected to take charge during India’s upcoming tour of England in June-July 2025.
According to a PTI report, sources close to the situation pointed out that Bumrah is yet to bowl at full intensity, making it difficult for him to regain match fitness in time for the Champions Trophy. Instead, the plan appears to be for him to return for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL before assuming leadership duties in England.
Jasprit Bumrah has already captained India in three Tests, stepping in when Rohit Sharma was unavailable. His first stint came during the 2022 England tour, when he led India in Birmingham after Rohit tested positive for COVID-19. Despite India’s loss in that Test, Bumrah impressed with his tactical awareness. His second opportunity came in Australia last year, when he guided India to a famous victory in the Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy while Rohit was away for the birth of his child.
As India looks ahead to a new era in Test cricket, Bumrah’s potential as a leader is becoming increasingly evident. Whether he can seamlessly transition from strike bowler to captain remains to be seen, but the faith placed in him by the selectors signals a major shift in Indian cricket’s leadership structure.
