Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has voiced his opinion against Jasprit Bumrah taking over the Test captaincy from Rohit Sharma, suggesting that a batter would be a better fit for the role.

Kaif proposed KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as ideal candidates to maintain balance within the team if Rohit steps away from leadership duties.

Speculation about the future of India's Test captaincy arose after Rohit Sharma missed the Sydney Test in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Reports suggested that the Melbourne Test might have been Rohit's last in the longest format. Addressing these discussions in a YouTube video, Kaif argued that handing the captaincy to Bumrah, despite his stellar bowling performances, could lead to undue pressure on the pacer. Instead, he pointed out that a batter, particularly someone like Pant or Rahul, would be better equipped to manage the dual responsibility of leadership and maintaining their form.

"Jasprit Bumrah will not take over captaincy in the future...Bumrah becoming Rohit Sharma's successor is not the right idea, because he is the only bowler who puts his life out for the team and takes huge load of pressure and with very less to no support. Which is the reason he is getting injured, it was not the first time (Sydney Test) he got injured," Kaif said.

"I don't believe he should be the captain...I want a batter to become a captain be it Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul. Rishabh and KL have done captaincy in the IPL, so one of them can be a good choice," he added.

Bumrah had brief stints as captain during the series against Australia, leading in the Perth Test when Rohit was on paternity leave and again in the Sydney Test when Rohit sat out after a poor run of form. Bumrah impressed with 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 but was sidelined by injury during Australia's first innings at the SCG, forcing Virat Kohli to step in as stand-in captain.

. In an interview with Star Sports, he emphasized that any future captain must earn their role, drawing parallels with the legacies of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Rohit stated that young players need to demonstrate their ability to handle the pressures of international cricket over a consistent period before being considered for captaincy.

As debates around the next Test captain continue, Kaif's suggestion highlights the importance of balancing leadership responsibilities with performance consistency, ensuring the team remains competitive on the global stage. The choice of India's next Test leader will undoubtedly be a critical decision for the team's management.