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In a recent discussion on “HeyCB with DK” on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik shared his views on whether Jasprit Bumrah could become India’s future captain. While Bumrah has taken on the captaincy in a few instances, he isn’t currently seen as a primary contender for the role. Karthik highlighted both the advantages and challenges of Bumrah stepping into a leadership position.
The uncommon role of fast bowlers as captains in India
Fast bowlers leading the Indian cricket team is a rarity. Though Pat Cummins has successfully led Australia, India have yet to see a similar scenario. Bumrah is highly regarded for his composure and mature mindset, qualities that are essential for leadership. However, the major concern revolves around his heavy workload as a fast bowler. Karthik emphasized the importance of carefully managing Bumrah’s fitness if he were to take on the responsibility of captaining across all formats.
Dinesh Karthik’s reservations
Karthik voiced his concerns about the practicality of Bumrah leading India in every format. He highlighted that fast bowlers like Bumrah need meticulous care regarding their fitness due to the demanding nature of their role. Karthik likened Bumrah to a “Kohinoor diamond,” stressing the need to protect and preserve him to ensure his longevity in cricket. He pointed out that the selectors likely grappled with the challenge of balancing Bumrah’s potential as a leader with the physical toll of consistently playing him in all formats.
“Everything right … He is calm cool, good maturity but he is a fast bowler so how can we play him for all three formats that is the biggest question the selectors would have had. For a fast bowler like Bumrah, his fitness needs to be monitored and he needs to be protected as a player and only made to play in important matches, I keep saying this about Bumrah, he is like a Kohinoor diamond, we got to protect him, take care of him, make sure that he lasts as long as possible because whenever Bumrah plays in any format he makes an impact and that’s what we want,” Karthik said.
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Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy experience and outlook
Bumrah has captained India on three occasions – once in a Test against England and twice in T20Is against Ireland. His captaincy debut occurred in Birmingham in 2022 when Rohit Sharma was unavailable due to COVID-19. While Bumrah demonstrated leadership potential, ongoing concerns about his fitness have made the selectors cautious about offering him a more permanent captaincy role. Bumrah, nevertheless, has shown a willingness to embrace leadership. In a light-hearted moment during an interview with The Indian Express, he named himself as his favorite captain, reflecting his confidence in his own leadership abilities.
Recent performance and return
Bumrah last played for India during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where he was instrumental in securing India’s victory, taking 15 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 8.27. His crucial spells against Pakistan and South Africa were particularly noteworthy. After dealing with injuries, Bumrah is expected to return for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, where he might play in one of the two matches. His return is eagerly anticipated, especially with the challenging tour of Australia on the horizon.
