"Not Looking At It One Game…": Bumrah Makes Captaincy Intentions Clear

Jasprit Bumrah has always loved responsibility and taking on tough jobs which is why he is relishing the prospect of leading India against fierce rivals Australia in a much-anticipated Test series opener in their backyard. This is the second time that Bumrah will captain the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma after the Edgbaston Test against England in 2022, and the 30-year-old would like to skin the cat in his own way.

“I don’t look at captaincy as a post but I have always loved responsibility,” Bumrah said at a press conference ahead of the first Test.

“I wanted to do the tough job since I was a child. You want to do things and get thrown in tough scenarios, this adds a new challenge for me,” India’s pace spearhead said, summing up his feelings about leadership.

He knows it is for only one Test match and as much as he tried to portray that he wants to be in the present, there was no denying that he would want a leadership role in future.

“Obviously, I won’t be telling Rohit ki main kar leta hoon (I would do this) (laughs). He is our captain and he is doing a wonderful job and right now it’s one game and you don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” Bumrah tried to put things on record.

“I am not looking at it one game because in cricket, it’s important to be in the present. Right now it’s one game but we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Things change, that’s how cricket works.”

Bumrah on Rohit on Captaincy call

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“In the next game, things change and that’s how cricket works. Right now, I am in the present. I have been given a responsibility. I did it once and enjoyed it thoroughly. I am thinking how I can contribute to the best of my capacity. Future, I can’t control it.” Bumrah also understands that it doesn’t help if one is trying to ape someone else’s leadership traits.

“You have to find your own way as you can’t blindly copy anyone. Virat and Rohit have been very successful and have gotten results but my way is that I have always never followed a copybook plan.

“And even with my bowling you can see, I go with my instincts and that’s how I have always played my cricket. I have a lot of faith in my guts and instincts,” Bumrah said.

He believes that fast bowlers are “tactically smart” and do make good captains, and praised Pat Cummins for doing a “phenomenal job” with the Australian team. He also cited Kapil Dev’s example.

Does bowler captains tend to over-bowl or under-bowl themselves? “Well, I look at it in a different manner. I can manage myself the best when I am the captain. I know when I am fresh and I know when I need to push myself, and I know when I have to take extra responsibility,” he put forth his case in a strong manner.

“I look at the advantages. I understand that the wicket is changing, you have to understand what field settings are good at the moment and obviously bowlers are more data driven and research oriented than batters and that’s how the game is headed.” “There are more positives than negatives. Yes, there are challenges but you want to be tested and you want to face challenges.” Bumrah has always seen himself as a leader of the group, even when others have led the side.

“I am always wanting to add more when Rohit is there and when Virat was there. I tried to learn from them and when I became a senior player, and new guys started coming in, I started passing on information.

“That’s how I look at it. It feels good and there is no greater honour than leading your country. I have always wanted to play this format, and very few players have played this format, and captains are even less, so I am very privileged and happy to be in this position.”