Who will succeed Rohit as captain?

• Jasprit Bumrah, the last man to lead India in a Test match, is not the front-runner to become India’s next Test captain.

• India hasn’t had many long-term ‘bowling captains’ in the five-day game.

• Bishan Singh Bedi, S. Venkataraghavan, Kapil Dev, and Anil Kumble have been long-term captains in the five-day game.

• Bumrah’s workload management is a concern, as he has had issues with his back and has undergone corrective surgery.

• India needs Bumrah the bowler more than Bumrah the captain.

• There is no guarantee that Bumrah will play all five matches in India’s first Test outing in the post-Rohit-Virat Kohli era.

• K.L. Rahul, who is 33, could help Gill and Pant through a period of apprenticeship.

• The senior decision-making group within Indian cricket, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and head coach Gautam Gambhir, must turn to someone other than Bumrah.

• Shubman Gill, the Punjab batter who has run a brilliant ship with Gujarat Titans in this year’s IPL, is a potential candidate.

• Gill has been praised for his calmness and poise under pressure, his smart decision-making, and his man-management and tactical nous.

Captaining an IPL Franchise: Challenges and Future Prospects

• Gill has had a successful stint as skipper, leading the Indian team during a five-match Twenty20 International tour of Zimbabwe.

• Despite his impressive performance, his record outside the subcontinent is criticized in India.

• Gill’s Test debut in Australia in 2020-21 was an unqualified success, with an average of 51.80 in his three appearances.

• However, since then, Gill has struggled for impact while playing away from Asia, with his highest score in 18 innings in non-Asian countries being 36.

• The future of Gill’s captaincy could be uncertain, with him moving up or down the order in Rohit’s absence or Kohli’s retirement.

• The question remains whether K.L. Rahul, who has played 58 Tests but has a middling average of 33.57, should be given the Test captaincy.

• India has alternated between solid succession plans and the odd left-field punt, with Rahul potentially helping Gill and Pant through a period of apprenticeship.