Ashwin Advocates for Multiple Candidates in India’s Next Test Captaincy Race

With Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket, Shubman Gill is widely seen as the frontrunner to become India’s next Test captain ahead of the five-Test series against England starting June 20. However, former India spinner R Ashwin believes other experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja should also be seriously considered for the role.

Speaking on Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan’s YouTube channel, Ashwin suggested that instead of rushing to appoint Gill outright, India could adopt a more structured approach by having Gill serve as an understudy to a seasoned leader for a couple of years.

He emphasized Bumrah’s leadership potential despite his recent back injury, drawing parallels to Australia captain Pat Cummins, who also overcame a back stress fracture to lead his team. Ashwin also highlighted Jadeja’s vast experience in Tests but noted his lack of captaincy experience.

Ashwin proposed a transparent selection process akin to that used in Australia, where candidates present their vision for the team before being appointed.

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