India’s spearhead pacer Jasprit Bumrah has spoken his mind on the vacant Test captaincy post after Virat Kohli relinquished it on Saturday, a day after India were beaten by South Africa 2-1 in the Test series.
The selectors and the board are yet to announce the new Test skipper with the next Test series – versus Sri Lanka at home – still more than a month away. Jasprit Bumrah, who is the vice-captain for the upcoming 3-ODI series, was asked on Monday whether he would like to lead the country in the longest format.
The 28-year-old said he would happily accept the Test captaincy if the selectors ask him to. He said that it would be an honour for him to captain in Test cricket, but asserted that he is not chasing any titles or positions and wished to contribute to the side’s cause in any way possible.
“If given an opportunity, of course, you would think about it but that’s something that I don’t chase. I like to do my work however I can contribute. Having a post or not doesn’t really matter. Whatever contribution you can give, I try to do that. And that’s always been my process and that’s always what I look to do,” Bumrah said in the press conference on Monday.
“So yeah, obviously if given an opportunity, it’s an honour and there is no bigger feeling than that. But I try to focus on the things that I can contribute even if I’m not given a position of a leader because that’s the job of a teammate, that however you can help each other in any situation that’s very important,” he added.
“If given an opportunity, it would be an honour and I don’t see any other player would say no, and I’m no different. Be it any leadership group or responsibility, I always look to contribute to the best of my ability,” the fast bowler concluded.
The 3-match ODI series starts on Wednesday in Paarl; KL Rahul will captain India in absence of Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli will play his first match as a player and not captain since 2017.
