New Delhi: Jasprit Bumrah is widely acknowledged as a top-tier fast bowler in today’s cricket world, and now there are talks about him possibly taking up the role of being a permanent Test captain for India, succeeding Rohit Sharma. Despite only captaining in a handful of matches so far, Bumrah has shown promising leadership skills. In fact, Allan Border, an esteemed ex-Australian cricket player, confidently backs Bumrah to excel in this potential new role.
In the ongoing Test series in Australia, Bumrah donned the captain’s hat for India in the first match, stepping up in Rohit Sharma’s absence. The team thrived under his leadership, clinching a solid win by a margin of 295 runs.
Border, recognized as one of Australia’s best cricket captains with 93 Tests under his belt, expressed his respect for Bumrah’s strategic field placements in the series opener in Perth.
“He’ll (Bumrah) do a very good job. In Perth, he used himself properly. Captaincy-wise, the way he set the fields, you couldn’t fault him,” Border was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Bumrah first stepped into the shoes of India’s Test captain during the rearranged fifth Test against England in 2022, but sadly, the team faced defeat. Riding on the wave of leadership, he was next handed the baton for a trio of T20I matches in Ireland in 2023. Under his guidance, the team cheered two wins out of three, with the deciding match cancelled because of rain.
So far, Bumrah has donned the captain’s hat for India in a handful of games, split between two Test cricket outings and a trio of T20 international matches.
Border contends that entrusting a rapid bowler with a team’s captaincy can be a bit of a tough task, primarily because of the extra duties and responsibilities that come with it.
“It’s a tough one, because after your over, you need to go down to fine leg for a break and a drink! As captain, you can’t do that. You need to be at mid-on, directing the field. But Bumrah did well, he’s aggressive as a bowler, but not as aggressive as a person. He’s always got that smile on his face. (Pat) Cummins too,” he said.
In the ongoing Test series between India and Australia, Bumrah shines as the lead bowler, taking a commendable 21 wickets in just three matches. Not far behind him is Mitchell Starc who, even though competing in the same number of matches, has managed to bag 14 wickets.
Bumrah’s unique bowling technique greatly adds to his efficiency on the pitch, making him a challenging opponent for batsmen to face.
“Bumrah, these days, is on that pedestal. His wrists, his release points are different to other bowlers. Because of that hyperextension, he’s releasing the ball a foot further down than other bowlers. He’s got a unique shuffling run-up, and then the snap of these wrists, he’s amazing. Being different, plus having that skill, it’s a whole different level of difficulty for the batsman,” he said.
