The Gambhir Dilemma-Bumrah or a Youngster as India's Next Captain?

With Rohit Sharma moving close to the end of his journey in terms of leadership, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finds itself at crossroads with one of the biggest decisions in cricket history- which of its finest to appoint the next Indian cricket team captain.

Rohit, who is 37, has given the BCCI a hint that his tenure as the captain is reaching its end. He is likely to lead the team until the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and then will step down. Now, with Rohit's departure, all eyes are on Jasprit Bumrah, who is considered the favourite for the job. Bumrah has become one of the most dependable players in India, more so as a pacer, and has established his leadership qualities time and again.

While the selectors and BCCI officials would look to settle for Bumrah as the successor, head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown a spanner in the works that may make it complicated. Gambhir believes Bumrah is a natural leader but feels the pacer cannot be entrusted to lead the team through each series and tournament given his injury record and workload. It is a worry, he says, regarding Bumrah's availability for every series and tournament, something that could upset the balance and cohesion of the team.

The issue of Bumrah's availability is not new. During his first stint as a captain in 2022, when he led India in the rescheduled Test match against England, the team faltered under his leadership, suffering a heavy defeat in a record chase at Edgbaston. Bumrah, however, showed his great leadership potential as he marshaled a commanding victory in the Perth Test against Australia in 2024. Therefore, his rise to be considered a natural captain who can pull things back is etched in well. Overall, he is Rohit's rightful heir.

Coming to his credentials, Gambhir's primary concern is about the stability and continuity in his leadership. The coach, who has experienced the kind of problems throughout his tenure, such as dressing room leaks and a divided team, the coach is desperate to avoid any disruption. Gambhir feels India needs a full-time leader who can be there for every series and prevent the team from losing its rhythm on account of the absence of the captain. It is from this experience that he wishes to have a leader who is always present for the team during triumphs and failures.

It is not an easy situation for BCCI as they are in two minds over whether to opt for Bumrah or need an alternative. There are hints at a dual-captaincy model in which Bumrah is seen as being in charge of the big tournaments and series but with a younger player getting enough space for future plans. That would remind everyone of the late 2000s when Anil Kumble was given the Test captaincy role, leaving Test cricket with enough space for MS Dhoni to mature as an all-round leader in limited-over formats. Unlike during that time, the current Indian cricket team does not have an apparent heir apparent who can take over a full-time leadership role right away.

The other contender for the position is Hardik Pandya, who has emerged as a strong candidate considering his success in the IPL and his experience as a stand-in captain. He already skippered India in one-day and T20, but the frequent injuries he faces are already a hint to BCCI whether Pandya can really cope up with the pressures of full-time captaincy. The new skipper Suryakumar Yadav of India's T20 team has been one of the best players in the shortest format. He could prove to be a future leader in the shorter format, but one needs to wait and evaluate his skill set after performing in all three formats.

The other names also in the fray are KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, who both have experience of being captains of their teams in the IPL. Neither has really cemented his position for long term under Gambhir, though. The future seems promising with stars in the making in the form of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have already made quite a mark as potential future leaders. But then, these young players are in the nascent stages of their career and cannot be considered for captaincy yet.

The leadership of the team will need to be confirmed by the BCCI within a few months; it is on that decision the team will finally find a way ahead. In any case, with the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in sight, the captain will play an even more significant role in India's quest for victory. As pressure increases on Gambhir to deliver the results, perhaps the legacy of him as head coach would also come to be dictated by the choice of leadership of this crucial phase.

The choice of who leads the Indian team after Rohit Sharma will be not only about choosing a captain but also setting the stage for the next era of Indian cricket. BCCI will have to weigh its options very carefully and balance experience, potential, and consistency to keep the team competitive at the highest level.