New Delhi: 

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin too has weighed his options for the next captain of the Indian Test team and feels experienced names such as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja should also be considered in the picture. 

Ever since Rohit Sharma drew curtains on his Test career, Shubman Gill has been the frontrunner to get the Test skipper’s role and might be seen pursuing it in the upcoming England tour.

Ashwin was of the opinion that if the selectors want a new person as captain, then they should first make him a deputy of an experienced player for at least two years before handing him the reins full-time.

“If you are willing to go for a new person as captain, I would say why not make him an understudy of an experienced guy for two years before handing him the job on a full-time basis,” he added.

There have been reports that the Indian squad for the tour of England could be picked in the final week of May, and the whole selection process has been walloped by the talks of possibly appointing a new captain.

“First of all, everyone is saying that Gill is the captain. Everyone is going in that direction. But there is a loud option in Jasprit Bumrah, and why do we forget about Ravindra Jadeja,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, during a chat with former Tamil Nadu opener Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan.

Why Jadeja and Bumrah?

“But I would say why not get all the 3-4 candidates and make them do a presentation and ask them each to detail the vision for the team. It happens in countries like Australia and why won’t we go down that road,” added Ashwin.

After the retirements of legends Virat Kohli and Rohit from Tests, Jadeja is the most experienced player out of the current Indian lot, with 3370 runs from 80 Tests and 323 wickets as well. Aswhin wanted the BCCI to make all these candidates give a presentation on their vision for the team, as it is a common practice in Australia.

“He should be asked, will you be able to play five Tests? Can you be a full-time captain? I know he had a stress fracture but I am sure he will think about it. I think the hat with his name should be number one in that ring,” noted Ashwin.

The ex-India allrounder felt Bumrah’s recent injuries shouldn’t put him out of context and that he should be considered seriously for the role. “Look at Pat Cummins, he also had a back stress fracture, but he is now captaining Australia in Tests and ODIs. Like that, Bumrah is our national treasure and he should be in the discussion,” Ashwin perceived.

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