Jasprit Bumrah reveals he did not take up India Test captaincy because of ‘workload’

India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has said he didn’t take the Test captaincy onus because of workload management. Bumrah said it would have been unfair for the team if he had to miss Test matches in between a big series in order to manage his load.

Bumrah had suffered a back injury in the fifth Test match against Australia at Sydney and he could not bowl in the second innings. It is understood that another injury at the same spot could be career-ending for Bumrah.

After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their Test retirements during the IPL, Bumrah got in contact with the BCCI regarding the leadership role and he felt it made sense for him to take a step back.

“There’s no fancy stories to it [captaincy],” Bumrah told Sky Sports during an interview with Dinesh Karthik. “There is no controversy or there’s no headlining statements that I was sacked or I was not looked after. Before Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) retired during the IPL, I had spoken to BCCI that I have discussed about my workloads going forward in a five Test-match series. I’ve spoken to the people who have managed my back. I’ve spoken to the surgeon as well, who’s always spoken to me about how smart you have to be about the workloads.

“I did speak to him and then we came to a conclusion that I have to be a little smarter. I called the BCCI and said I don’t want to be looked at in a leadership role because I won’t be able to give [it my] all Test matches coming a five Test-match series. So then, yes, the BCCI was looking at me at leadership. But then I had to say no. It’s not fair for the team as well that in a five Test-match series, someone is leading in three matches and someone else in two matches. It’s not fair on the team and I always wanted to put the team first.”

Bumrah revealed he is going to play the opening Test match against England and he would take a call on the rest depending on his body.

“[We will] plan on the go,” Bumrah said when asked about whether he would play the first, third and the fifth matches. “Three Test matches is what I’m looking at. Obviously that number is not decided. First [Test] is definitely on, that is going to happen. The rest we’ll see how things are, what is the workload, what are the scenarios going on. Three Test matches is what I can manage at this moment. And I don’t want to be in a desperate scenario.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier revealed that Bumrah would not play all five Test matches. Whether Bumrah would play three or four Test matches, is yet to be decided.

The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.