Team India is set to face Sri Lanka in a white-ball series starting Saturday, featuring three T20I matches. Following the retirement of skipper Rohit Sharma from T20 cricket, there was much speculation about his successor. While all-rounder Hardik Pandya seemed a likely candidate, newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar selected batter Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain for the series against Sri Lanka.
This decision sparked discussions about why star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was not considered for the captaincy. Bumrah, who played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, addressed the matter with a candid response.
“I cannot just go to the team and demand to be made captain. That’s beyond my control. I believe bowlers are smart because we have to outthink the batters. We constantly face challenges such as shorter boundaries and better bats. I don’t recall any advancements that significantly aid bowlers. People love to see the ball being hit for sixes,” Bumrah told the Indian Express Adda.
“Bowlers do the hard work. They don’t hide behind a bat or a flat wicket. When a game is lost, bowlers often get the blame. It’s a tough job, and I take pride in it. Facing these challenges makes us braver, and leadership requires bravery. We’ve seen Pat Cummins excel in this role. Wasim Akram and Kapil Dev, among others, have won World Cups as captains. Bowlers are smart, but the physical stress often means leadership goes to batters,” he added.
Bumrah highlighted that while bowlers are not typically seen as team captains, there are exceptions. He cited Australia’s Pat Cummins, who led his team to ODI World Cup and World Test Championship titles, as an example.
“Perception changes with results. My unconventional bowling action was initially doubted, but now people try to emulate it. Results speak louder than words. Pat Cummins is a prime example; he achieved great success and changed perceptions. Taking on responsibility isn’t a burden for me. I prefer to step up and make a difference rather than staying in the background. Responsibility is crucial, and injuries can happen to anyone,” said Bumrah.
