Jasprit Bumrah had a clear shot at the Indian captaincy, but since that day in Sydney back in January when he hurt his back, things have changed for him. His injury meant India struggled without him, and it really hurt his chances of becoming the long-term Test captain. Former player Sanjay Manjrekar expressed surprise that Bumrah isn’t being considered for the role, suggesting if they’re worried about his injuries, they really need to choose a strong vice-captain.

There are whispers around Shubman Gill potentially stepping into the captaincy, especially since he recently had a meeting with head coach Gautam Gambhir. Despite some grumbling from influential figures in Indian cricket about Gill’s quick rise, it’s hard to believe they didn’t have a say before he was picked as a leader.

Now at 31, Bumrah might find the permanent captaincy slipping away, especially with the likelihood of him missing more matches. We’ve seen this happen before; guys like Ravi Shastri were overlooked during their peak, and even Shane Warne never led Australia despite being a great player.

Bumrah’s injury history is a worry for selectors. One moment in Sydney, and he was out for three months after already missing almost a year due to another injury right before the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Going forward, the team’s morale will depend heavily on how Bumrah handles this situation. Gambhir will have to manage this well to ensure Bumrah gets the respect he deserves, even though Gambhir usually doesn’t favor star treatment in a team setting.

Looking at the current team, it’s clear Bumrah and Rishabh Pant are real match-winners. If Bumrah isn’t chosen as captain, both Gambhir and Gill will have to step up and work with him to guide the team the right way. Bumrah knows his game well, but he’ll need understanding and support from the leaders. If he’s in form, Gambhir will need to steer things in harmony; otherwise, it might get messy.