Will Selectors Pick Bumrah As India’s Test Team Leader Over Rohit, Rahul?

If I can be vice-captain, why not be the captain? This line of thought could weigh in the mind of Jasprit Bumrah, a top-notch fast bowler who has captured 109 of his 113 Test wickets overseas. Bumrah, deputy to KL Rahul for the three match ODI series in South Africa averred at a media interaction that he is indeed game for India’s Test captaincy. Bumrah has been India’s linchpin bowler for four years and called upon for select white ball cricket matches. India’s selection committees have been generally conservative and are not inclined to name a specialist bowler as captain. Left-hand spinner Bishan Singh Bedi led India in 22 Tests and off spinner S Venkataraghavan in five Tests. Kapil Dev excelled at his primary work as a fast medium bowler, but he could have walked into the national team as a batter too! Anil Kumble got a late call in his career and he led the country in 14 Tests. As highlighted in these columns recently, India’s captaincy puzzle has taken an unknown contour now with Virat Kohli relinquishing captaincy for good. So who will it be next, the 35th Test captain; fast bowler Pat Cummins led Australia to a resounding 4-0 in the Ashes. Will the BCCI’s selection committee take the cue from Cricket Australia’s move, or will it plump for a batter? Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul are in the short queue!