With Shubman Gill named as the new Test captain of the side, India have embarked on a transition phase, especially in the backdrop of retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Many expected Jasprit Bumrah to be the captain, as the next senior-most player in the dressing room, but the concerns with his workload management deterred selectors from handing over the reins of the Test team.
It was reported on the 8th of May on RevSportz that Jasprit Burmah was unlikely to become the next captain owing to how the Test series has been scheduled with insufficient breaks between Test number two and three, and three and four.
The first Test match will kick off on June 20th in Leeds, followed by the second Test in Birmingham from July 2nd to 6th. With a week-long gap between the first two matches, the schedule allows bowlers enough time to recover. Bumrah is expected to feature in both games. However, with the third Test starting just two days later on July 10th, the quick turnaround could limit his recovery and potentially rule him out of that match. Every Test also includes a reserve day, keeping rain in mind.
Moving forward, the fourth Test in Manchester, scheduled for July 23rd to 27th, gives Bumrah a longer recovery window and improves his chances of playing. But the fifth Test, starting just three days later in London, again complicates his availability.
It was clear that there were no doubts about Bumrah’s abilities as a captain but selectors were not keen on having a leader who would only play a maximum of three Test matches in the series, instead they wanted a captain that would last the entire WTC cycle, till the end of 2027.
Also Read: Why Jasprit Bumrah may not lead the Indian team in England? The Inside story.
On the other hand, the absence of Bumrah in some of the Test matches leaves a gaping hole in the pace attack, which is why fans expected to see Mohammad Shami in the squad. But as reported by RevSportz on the 13th of May, Shami’s inclusion too was doubtful owing to his fitness.
“You cannot choose someone for red ball depending on his IPL bowling efforts. The selection committee will need to be 100% sure that Shami is in a position to bowl 15 overs in a day. Suppose he picks up a couple of wickets in a spell. It will be expected that he can keep going for 6-7 overs at a stretch. In the IPL, even a 4 over spell is divided into two, that is why it is no index for red ball selection” A source close to the development had said.
Selectors weren’t fully convinced about whether Shami can handle the workload of bowling 18 overs a day. His inclusion hinged on how much his body could take and whether he was fit enough to withstand the rigours of Test cricket. As things stand today, Shami could be referred to the NCA and may be added to the squad later. But there are no guarantees about his inclusion.
“If you go purely by potential, Shami is a clear cut choice. But, at this point what the selectors will need to see is if he is loading his body enough to give them comfort. Has he prepared enough for red ball cricket and bowling long-ish spells. Is there any fear of him breaking down? Selectors could even consult NCA sources to find out some of the answers.” The source said on May 13th.
Circumstances above make it clear, and answer two very important questions that had popped up since the squad announcement. One, why wasn’t the captaincy given to Jasprit Bumrah, and two, why wasn’t Mohammad Shami included in the team despite the invaluable experience that he would have brought to the dressing room.