India great Sunil Gavaskar has highlighted why Jasprit Bumrah could be the next captain of the Indian Test team, following his outstanding performance against Australia in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah led from the front with the ball, taking 32 wickets in the five-match series and earning the Player of the Series award.
Additionally, Bumrah’s captaincy earned widespread praise after he led India to their only win of the series in Perth as a stand-in skipper. He was handed the captaincy again in the final Test after Rohit Sharma stepped down, but a back injury prevented him from bowling on Day 3. Many have endorsed Bumrah as a future captain of the Indian Test team, a sentiment echoed by Sunil Gavaskar.
Speaking to 7Cricket, the Indian legend said that the pacer has the air of a leader but isn’t someone who would put pressure on his teammates. “He could be the next man. I think he will be the next man. Because he leads from the front. He has got a very good air about him. The air of a leader. But not somebody who is going to put pressure on you. Sometimes you have captains who put a lot of pressure on you.”
“With Bumrah, you can see that he expects the others to do what their job is and why they’re in the national team. But he doesn’t seem to pressurise anybody. And with the fast bowlers, he has been absolutely brilliant. Standing at mid-off, mid-on. Every time he was on hand to tell them and guide them. I think he was absolutely brilliant and I won’t be surprised if he takes over very soon,” said Gavaskar.
Bumrah will be seen next in action in Tests during the England tour in June.
