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Cricket Players'Kapil Dev did it for India...': Ex-CSK pacer wants Bumrah to break 'taboo', become Test captain in place of Rohit
Bumrah is known for always being a positive cricketer, playing with a smile on his face, but matching that with intensity and aggression.
With Rohit Sharma having tested positive for Covid-19 and currently in a race against time to be deemed fit to play the Test match against England, many across India have started wondering who will take over his captaincy duties should the worst-case scenario occur. One name which has been floated is that of Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler, and the first name on the teamsheet for any Test tour overseas.
Virat Kohli had been the Indian captain during the first four Test matches against England last year, but has since relinquished his duties, with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul leading the team as captain and vice-captain following Ajinkya Rahane being dropped due to poor form.
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However, with Rahul injured and Rohit still recovering from Covid-19, the pool for potential captains in Birmingham grows thinner. Bumrah is considered a lead contender because of his relative seniority and ability, but there are concerns about making a bowler the captain, with fears that playing that dual role during fielding innings can make both aspects of the game less efficient.
However, former Indian pacer Mohit Sharma has come out in support of Bumrah, saying that he would be an ideal candidate for India’s captaincy, a similar figure to that of 1983 World Cup-winning legendary skipper Kapil Dev.
Speaking to ANI, Mohit said “I don't know how well you know Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) but I know him very well. We played a lot of cricket together. He is a very cool and calm character.”
Bumrah is known for always being a positive cricketer, playing with a smile on his face, but matching that with intensity and aggression when it most matters. It is a combination which has made him the finest death bowler in limited-overs cricket in the world, not because of ability alone, but also because of his mentality.
“On the field, he bowls aggressively but off the field, he is very calm and if he becomes a captain then the taboo of fast bowlers can't become captain will not be there.” India have largely favoured batting captains in the recent past, with the belief that in doing so they allow all the bowlers to be focussed on their own bowling rather than that of the others as well.
However, with Hardik Pandya captaining the T20 side in Ireland, there seems to be a subtle move away from that notion, which Mohit pointed out: “An all-rounder can become a good captain as Hardik Pandya did in IPL.” Pandya led Gujarat Titans to an immensely successful debut season, looking dominant and lifting the IPL trophy at the end. Under his watch, India are currently 1-0 up against Ireland.
Mohit also looks further to set instances when bowling captains have been successful, notably Kapil Dev, who captained India to the momentous 1983 World Cup, and in doing so became the benchmark by which all captains would be judged. “Paaji (Kapil Dev) did for India if you look at other countries Pat Cummins has led Australia. So, if Bumrah becomes captain then it would be great for India.”
If Bumrah does captain India in Rohit Sharma’s absence, it will be a baptism by fire, leading the team against a resurgent England squad under Ben Stokes, with the series still up for grabs and India leading 2-1. It will be a pressure situation for Bumrah in his first game as captain – although he was named as KL Rahul’s deputy in South Africa, this will be a far more high-stakes scenario for him on a personal level.
