Team India is gearing up to face Sri Lanka in a white-ball series, commencing with three T20I matches from Saturday. The absence of former skipper Rohit Sharma from the shortest format has sparked discussions about his replacement. While all-rounder Hardik Pandya seemed like a potential candidate, the newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have surprisingly named batter Suryakumar Yadav as the captain for the T20Is against Sri Lanka.
The decision has raised questions about star pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s exclusion from the captaincy race. Bumrah, who played a pivotal role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, has expressed his views on the matter.
“I cannot approach the team and demand to be made captain. It’s beyond my authority. I believe bowlers are the intelligent ones because we have to dismiss batters. We constantly face challenges due to shorter grounds and superior bats. I can’t recall any technology or innovation that significantly enhances ball swing. People enjoy watching the ball being hit around and sixes being scored,” Bumrah stated at the Indian Express Adda.
“Bowlers are doing the difficult work. They’re not hiding behind a bat or a flat wicket. When a game is lost, bowlers are blamed. It’s a demanding task. I take great pride in it. You face numerous obstacles. Bowlers develop innovative strategies to succeed because of these challenges. Facing adversity makes you more courageous, and leadership requires courage. We’ve seen Pat Cummins excel. I’ve witnessed Wasim Akram lead. Kapil Dev and Imran Khan have won World Cups. Bowlers are the intelligent ones. Sometimes, it’s physically demanding, which is why batters often assume leadership roles. In my opinion, bowlers are the smart ones,” he added.
Traditionally, bowlers have not been considered for team captaincy. However, Bumrah cited the example of Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins, who led his team to ODI World Cup and World Test Championship titles.
“Perception shifts with results. I faced the perception that my bowling action wouldn’t work, but now people try to imitate it. You don’t need to say anything; let your results speak for themselves. Pat Cummins is a prime example. I’ve achieved many positive outcomes. He won the World Cup and WTC. I don’t believe it’s a burden. When you play cricket, you want responsibility,” said Bumrah.
“You don’t want to hide and be a backbencher. You must have the mindset that if you give me the ball, I will make a difference. I believe there is no greater feeling than having responsibility. Injuries can happen to anyone,” he added.
