I don’t think he is available for all five Tests – Ajit Agarkar on why Jasprit Bumrah was overlooked for captaincy

As India announced their Test squad for the upcoming England tour, Jasprit Bumrah was overlooked for any of the captaincy roles despite the vacant position ever since Rohit Sharma decided to step down. With Shubman Gill handed over the captaincy and Rishabh Pant being made his deputy, there were obvious questions about India's plans for the pacer.

Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, highlighted that the call was taken keeping Jasprit Bumrah’s availability in mind. Bumrah had a major injury once again that forced him out on the last day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy while compelling him to be on the sidelines in the wee days of the IPL. India wanted to take some workload off him and hence it was Rishabh Pant who got the nod for the vice-captaincy.

Talking in the press-conference, Ajit Agarkar said, “I don’t think he is available for all five Tests. Again, that is what the physios and the doctors have told us, whether it's four or three, the workload…needless to say how important he is, even if he is available for three or four Tests.”

Agarkar capped off by saying, “We’re just glad that he’s fit, the setback that he had in Australia wasn’t too bad.”