Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has once again conveyed his aspiration to lead Team India. Currently, Rohit Sharma serves as the captain across all three formats. While T20I saw leadership from Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav last year, Rohit recently resumed his role as the team’s captain.
Jasprit Bumrah, regarded as one of the team’s leaders, previously captained Team India in a historic event during the rescheduled fifth Test against England in 2022. This momentous occasion occurred due to Rohit’s absence, testing positive for Covid, and vice-captain KL Rahul sidelined with an injury. Bumrah’s leadership marked him as the first fast bowler in 35 years to lead the Indian Test team.
Despite the loss in that match, Bumrah relished the responsibility and expressed his desire to captain the team in the future. With Rohit approaching 37, Bumrah recognizes the impending need for a new captain and has expressed his interest in taking up the role.
Reflecting on his experience, Bumrah conveyed, “I did one game, and it was the utmost honor. Playing Test cricket is great; captaining was even better. Yes, we lost, but we were ahead in the match, and I loved the responsibility. Sometimes as a fast bowler, you go down to fine leg and switch off, but I loved being involved in every decision, right in the thick of things. And given the opportunity, of course, who wouldn’t?”
Drawing inspiration from Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins, who led Australia to triumphs in the World Cup and World Test Championship last year, Bumrah emphasized that fast bowlers can be effective leaders. He acknowledged that while the number of matches played may differ, Cummins sets a good example for fast bowlers as smart individuals who understand the intricacies of the game.
Currently gearing up for the upcoming five-match Test series against England at home, Bumrah is poised for the series opener on January 25 in Hyderabad. The series promises to be a significant challenge and an opportunity for Bumrah to showcase his leadership qualities on the field.
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