Rarely has a fast bowler been picked to lead the side in Indian cricket. Kapil Dev was a glorious exception. No fast bowler has led India since Kapil Dev in March 1987. 35 years later Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be officially designated as captain of India for the fifth and final Test against England at Edgbaston, starting from July 1.
With regular captain Rohit Sharma down with Covid and vice-captain KL Rahul being ruled due to injury, the Edgbaston Test could be Bumrah’s first as an Indian captain.
Earlier this year, Bumrah has been promoted as the vice-captaincy of the Indian team for the three-match ODI series in South Africa. In the press conference, the pace spearhead had then said that if the opportunity comes, he is ready to take up the India captaincy.
“If given an opportunity, it would be an honour. I don’t think any player would say no. There’s no bigger feeling than that,” Bumrah had said back then.
“I don’t like to chase things because I don’t want to… See I am a person who believes that God has a plan and everything will find out its own way, so I don’t like to hamper the plan that is there. I try to never change anything.
“Whatever role is asked of me I would do it with the best ability that I can. I don’t want to change the whole organisation, you are always a leader when you are a senior member of the team so it’s just a post that comes with you.
