After Rohit Sharma‘s retirement, Madan Lal, a former cricketer, is of the opinion that Jasprit Bumrah should be named the captain of the Indian men’s Test team.

The 31-year-old Bumrah led India in the rescheduled fifth Test against England in Birmingham in 2022. He also captained the team in two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024-25.

India’s major success on Australian territory came in the series’ first Test last November, when they thrashed Australia by 295 runs under his leadership. He was also in charge of the team when Rohit Sharma dropped himself from the Sydney Test.

“I feel Jasprit Bumrah is the ideal candidate to lead India. Fitness is a separate issue, but if he is fit and available, he should be the first choice,” Lal stated in an interview with PTI.

Madan Lal, who was part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, feels that Bumrah should assume the role of Test captain, provided he is fit and ready.

As captain, Bumrah has claimed 15 wickets across three Test matches, with his best figures being 5 wickets for 30 runs from 18 overs in the first innings of the Perth Test.

Rohit Sharma, aged 38, announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, marking the end of his 11-year career in the format. Madan Lal voiced his support for Rohit’s decision. He expressed his support for Rohit’s decision, suggesting that the experienced cricketer must have carefully considered the choice before stepping down.

“Look, when such prominent players are added to the team, they become the first choice. However, form is never consistent. Fine, their performances haven’t been upto the mark but retirement is a personal decision. They must have given a serious thought before revealing it,” Lal added.