India, May 18 -- The search for India's next Test captain has intensified in the wake of Rohit Sharma's retirement, with Ajit Agarkar's selection panel weighing up options ahead of the five-match home series against England that starts in June. Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit's long-time deputy and the stand-in leader during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last winter, was initially viewed as the natural successor. Yet the fast-bowler's management-heavy workload and the likelihood that he may be rested in the middle of the series reportedly nudged the selectors toward a younger Shubman Gill.

That line of thinking, however, has drawn sharp opposition from former India batter-turned-broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar, who believes the "availability" concern is...