Jasprit Bumrah also ready to become India captain

TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/17/2022 6:00:02 PM Sports and Culture

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has said that if the opportunity comes, he is ready to take up the India captaincy. “If given an opportunity, it would be an honour. I don’t think any player would say no,” Bumrah said at a press conference on Monday.

The fast bowler has been promoted to the vice-captaincy of the Indian team for the three-match ODI series in South Africa that starts on Wednesday. KL Rahul is the stand-in captain for the series, as the regular captain Rohit Sharma hasn’t yet recovered from a hamstring injury.

After Virat Kohli gave up his Test captaincy at the end of the South Africa series, speculations are rife over who his successor will be. While Rahul and Rohit are said to be the frontrunners, former India captain and one of the game’s influential voices, Sunil Gavaskar, had suggested the name of wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. Now, Bumrah’s name too can be added to the list.

Rarely has a fast bowler been picked to lead the side in Indian cricket. Kapil Dev was a glorious exception. As for Bumrah, he is one of only three players with an A+ central contract – the other two being Kohli and Rohit — and is indispensable in any format.

“Ready to do it if given the responsibility. In any leadership group, I always look forward to contributing in the same manner,” Bumrah said.

The selectors had promoted Rohit to the Test vice-captaincy ahead of the South Africa tour, in place of Ajinkya Rahane. But the opener, being injury-prone of late, was ruled out of the entire tour. When a back spasm prevented Kohli from playing the second Test in Johannesburg, Rahul led the team and Bumrah was the vice-captain.

A BCCI functionary told The Indian Express that for the moment, the selectors are set to appoint Rohit as captain across formats but beyond that, there remains a question mark. Rohit’s dodgy fitness record could be an impediment to making him long-term captain. Also, he will be turning 35 in April, and is a year-and-a-half older than Kohli.

Bumrah’s promotion as ODI vice-captain for the South Africa series is a clear indication that the selection committee see leadership potential in him.

Bumrah, however, didn’t play up the transition factor following Kohli’s exit. “We understand the change. All of us have played enough cricket. As a team, we will make positive contributions,” he said.

He spoke in glowing terms about Kohli’s leadership. “He (Kohli) brought in energy. He brought in the fitness culture. He was driven. Everybody moved in one direction under his leadership.

“It’s his decision. He knows his body. He knows his frame of mind. We respect that. It’s been a pleasure to play under his captaincy. I made my debut under him.”


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