‘I love cricket more than captaincy’ - Jasprit Bumrah on his decision to stay away from the leadership role

‌The Indian cricket team can breathe a sigh of relief as pacer Jasprit Bumrah is fully fit and raring to go ahead of the five-Test series against England starting in Leeds on June 20. Bumrah finished as the top wicket-taker in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with 32 scalps from five matches at an astonishing average of 13.06 and a strike rate of 28.37 and  will once again lead the bowling attack during the marquee series.

“The body's feeling good, I played a hectic IPL,” Bumrah told Dinesh Karthik in an interview for Sky Sports. “It is all about workload, you don't want to have a big spike. In Australia, there were certain scenarios that you know we had to push extra because the series was on the line and I was doing really well and you wanted to give yourself and the team the best chance. But  I have to be a little smart about my workload as I still want to contribute in all three formats.”

Bumrah was expected to take over the baton of the Indian Test team with Rohit Sharma announcing his retirement from the longer format ahead of the announcement of the team for the England tour. He had captained the side in two Tests Down Under in the absence of Rohit. But with his workload being managed after his return from a back injury during the Australian series, it meant he had let go of the post keeping in mind the bigger picture of the team.

“There's no fancy stories to it, there is no controversy or there are no headlining statements that I was sacked or I was not looked after before Rohit and Virat retired during the IPL,” Bumrah explained. “I had spoken to the BCCI about my workload going forward in a five-Test match series and I've spoken to the people who have managed my back, including the surgeon as well. So then I told the BCCI that I don't want to be looked at in a leadership role because I won't be able to give all test matches in a five-Test series.

“It's not fair for the team as well that you know a five test match series three match somebody else is leading two matches somebody else is leading and I always wanted to put the team first. So even if me being there as a player offers a lot more just not as a captain. Captaincy is a post but you always have leaders in the team and I wanted to do that.  I love cricket more than captaincy so I want to contribute more as a cricketer and to the Indian team as a player.”

With the team management already making it clear that the ace pacer will be part of the team in only three matches, Bumrah mentioned that they have not yet decided on the matches that he will feature but confirmed that he will surely figure in the first game of the five-match of the series starting at Headingley in Leeds on June 20.

“Three Test matches is what I'm looking at and yeah obviously the number is not decided,” Bumrah said. First is definitely a yes, that is going to happen, and rest we see how things are, what is the workload and what are the scenarios going on. But yeah, exactly three test matches is what I can manage at this moment and I don't want to be in a desperate scenario.”

With the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli calling it a day in the longer format to join Ravichandran Ashwin, who announced his retirement during the Australian series late last year, the Indian team suddenly looks at a transition in the longer format of the game. As a result, Bumrah, along with KL Rahul, finds himself as one of the senior players in the side and he was quick to highlight that.

“Feels very young since the average age is 25,” quipped Bumrah. “I was the youngster and now suddenly I have become the older person in the team but yes it obviously feels good. Different energy, different vibe and nobody has any baggage because a lot of them are coming on their first tour. They are fearless and go with an attacking approach.” 

With a lot of pace bowlers giving up Test cricket in a bid to manage their workload and extend their cricketing career, Bumrah prioritises the longer format and wants to keep playing Tests for as long as he is fit. The pacer believes that Test matches are the real deal and he measures himself based on the performances in the five-day game.

“I come from a time where test cricket was the pinnacle and for me this is the format that I grew up watching and I always judge myself through this format,” Bumrah said. “I would encourage people to play this format if you want respect because whenever you'll shake your hand and people look you in the eye, like Virat said in his interview that you'll get respect through this format and you get a lot of respect all over the world.

With a short stint of captaincy in his illustrated Test career, the Mumbai Indians pacer understands the need for a skipper to be left alone but also reiterated that he was always there whenever Shubman Gill required him.

“I feel that you have to give freedom and you have to be there for him whenever he needs in whatever capacity,” Bumrah explained. I don't want to jump in and if I see something I can give in a quiet word but I want the person to be free, thinking about how he wants to operate.

“He obviously has a thought process. He's young and energetic. So um whenever he comes up to me, whenever he's had discussions with me, I'm always there for his support and whatever he needs out of me, I'm more than happy to give it,” Bumrah signed off.