Jasprit Bumrah has finally broken his silence on why he stepped away from the India Test captaincy, paving the way for Shubman Gill to be appointed as the new leader in red-ball cricket.
In a candid interview, Bumrah emphasized that while captaincy was a matter of pride for him, his decision was guided purely by what he believes is in the best interest of the team.
“Five-Test match series — three matches, somebody else is leading, two matches, somebody else is leading — it’s not fair to the team. And I always wanted to put the team first,” he explained.
The star pacer, who missed the Champions Trophy and early part of the IPL due to a recurring back injury, revealed that his primary concern is long-term fitness. This is his second stress injury on the back, the first of which kept him out for over a year.
“Even if me being there as a player offers a lot more — just not as a captain. The captaincy is a post, but you always have leaders in the team. And I wanted to do that,” Bumrah added.
Widely regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in the world, Bumrah said he wants to avoid putting his body under pressure to the point where he can’t play all three formats.
“If I’m not careful, I don’t want to suddenly reach a point where I have to walk away from Test cricket altogether.”
Calling the BCCI directly, Bumrah requested that he no longer be considered for leadership roles, choosing instead to focus on contributing as a player.
“I love cricket more than captaincy. I had worked very hard for the role, and ambitions were there, but I want to serve the team better as a cricketer.”
His decision, though difficult, reflects maturity and selflessness, ensuring that India’s Test setup has continuity in leadership while still benefiting from Bumrah’s game-changing performances on the field.
