Veteran cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has backed the fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to become India’s permanent Test captain by replacing Rohit Sharma at the role. Pujara is someone who has seen Bumrah quite closely and feels that he has the ability to become a long-term captain.
Jasprit Bumrah recently led India to a memorable victory in the Perth Test. Bumrah led India in the absence of the regular captain Rohit Sharma, who was out of the squad to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.
It was Bumrah’s second Test as a captain but he was instrumental with his decision-making. Not only was he impressed with his captaincy, but his bowling was superb as well. He picked up eight wickets in the match and was adjudged the Player of the Match.
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Cheteshwar Pujara backs Jasprit Bumrah to replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain
While speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Cheteshwar Pujara was asked about Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy. The veteran India batter called him a long-term captaincy option. He lauded Bumrah’s captaincy skills despite leading for the first time on Australian soil.
“He is (a long-term captaincy option) with any doubt. The way he has showed that in difficult circumstances when we had a tough series at home and when you are playing a first Test match in Australia and to put up a show like that,” Pujara said.
“I think he has the capability of leading the team and he’s a team’s man. You look at him he never only talks about himself, he talks about the team, the other players. What advice he would give,” he added.
Alongside his skills, Jasprit Bumrah is known to have a great cricketing brain as well. He rotated a young bowling attack superbly during the first Test. Whenever a wicket was required, Bumrah stood up and produced a wicket out of nowhere.
Cheteshwar Pujara hails Jasprit Bumrah
Cheteshwar Pujara was also impressed with the way Bumrah handled the senior players of the team and also claimed that the fast bowler is very friendly with the players in the dressing room.
“There are times when players don’t need advice and he accepts it, he says that… if there is an experienced player he will keep quiet. That is the sign of a good captain,” said Pujara.
“He is very down to earth, very friendly with players in the dressing room, and eager to help and he is a good person to chat with. Even outside of cricket, he has a humble personality,” he noted.
Jasprit Bumrah in Perth Test
Both Cheteshwar Pujara and Jasprit Bumrah played key roles in India’s previous wins in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy played in Australia. While Pujara is not part of the squad this time, Bumrah will be a vital part of India’s plans in the remaining Tests.
Jasprit Bumrah picked up 5-30 in the first innings and then finished with 3-42 in the second innings. His exploits earned him the Player of the Match award as well. India will expect Bumrah to produce such figures in the next Tests of the series.