Ravichandran Ashwin believes Jasprit Bumrah deserves India Test captaincy

Both Rohit and Kohli have decided to call time on their careers in the longest format with India set for five-match Test series in England, starting on 20 June at Headingley.

Ashwin, who played 106 Test matches, said the loss of the senior players will create and experience vacuum in the India side aheadof the series in England.

Bumrah was the designated Test vice-captain under Rohit but their are concerns about the workload of the paceman and batter Shubman Gill is considered the frontrunner to get the Test leadership reins.

Speaking on his Youtube show 'Ash Ki Baat', Ashwin said: "I didn't have an idea both (Rohit and Kohli) would retire together. This will a testing time for Indian cricket, and I'll say this is truly now the beginning of the (head coach) Gautam Gambhir era.

"The team that will tour England will be a completely new team, a transformed team where Bumrah will probably be the senior-most player.

"He is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will take a decision based on his physical capacity.

"Their retirements will definitely create a leadership vacuum. You can't buy experience, especially on tours like this. Virat's energy and Rohit's composure will be missed."

Ashwin claimed he was surprised that both Rohit and Kohli decided to quit Test cricket as he feels both had more to give in the longest format.

"There will be a sense of fulfilment, but I honestly feely Kohli definitely had one-two years of Test cricket left in him," Ashwin said.

"Rohit, I felt would at least go on till the England Test series, because there's a leadership vacuum in the team. Tests has been the finest in the last 10-12 years, but just for the sake of leadership, Rohit should've played till the England series, and if he'd performed, he could've carried on and given some more leadership."