Beginning on Saturday with three T20 International matches, Team India is prepared to take on Sri Lanka in a white-ball series. There was a lot of discussion about the ideal candidate to take over as captain following the departure of skipper Rohit Sharma from the shortest format. All-rounder Hardik Pandya seemed to be the obvious option, but batter Suryakumar Yadav was picked captain for the T20 International match against Sri Lanka by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and recently recruited head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Following the news, there have been several comments regarding the exclusion of top bowler Jasprit Bumrah from consideration for the captaincy. Bumrah, who was instrumental in India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, discussed the issue and responded angrily.
“I cannot go to the team and tell, now you have to make me captain. It is above my pay grade. I feel the bowlers are the smart people, as we have to get the batters out. We are always fighting the odds as the ground are shorter, the bats are better. I don’t remember any article or technology coming to swing the ball a lot more. People enjoy the ball being thrown around and enjoy sixes being hit,” Bumrah said on the Indian Express Adda.
“Because bowlers are doing the hard job. They are not hiding behind a bat. They are not hiding behind a flat wicket. When you lose a game, bowlers are blamed. It is a hard job. I take a lot of pride doing that job. You have to face a lot of challenges. Because of these challengers, bowlers find new ways to succeed. Fighting the odds make you a lot braver, leadership needs you to be brace. We have seen Pat Cummins doing really well. I have seen Wasim Akram captaining. Kapil Dev and Imran Khan have won a World Cup. Bowlers are the smart ones. Sometimes, physically it is stressful, that’s why leadership goes to batters. In my opinion, bowlers are the smart ones,” he added.
Contrary to popular perception, bowlers are typically not considered the team captains. Bumrah, however, used Australia’s Pat Cummins as an example, who guided his side to World Test Championship and ODI World Cup victories.
“Perception changes with results. I came from a perception that this bowling action will not work, but now people try to copy it. You don’t try to say things; you let your results talk. Pat Cummins is a big example. I got a lot of positive results. He won the World Cup and WTC. I do not think it is a burden. When you play cricket, you want responsibility,” said Bumrah.
“You do not want to hide behind and be the backbencher. You have to be of the mindset that if you give me the ball, I will make the difference. I am of the opinion that there is no better thought than having responsibility. Injuries can happen to anyone,” he added.
