Jasprit Bumrah should be made the vice-captain and groomed for captaincy, opines Shoaib Akhtar

01/24/2022

Shoaib Akhtar has opined that Jasprit Bumrah should be appointed as vice-captain of the Indian team and should be groomed for captaincy. Akhtar further added that the trend of thinking that only batsmen can be captain is wrong citing the example of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

India recently lost the three match ODI series against South Africa under the leadership of KL Rahul. KL Rahul has a poor captaincy record to his name as India lost the Test against South Africa where he captained. Now, loss in three ODIs has recorded four defeats to his name as captain. Rahul has been criticized for his captaincy by many. Virat Kohli stepped down from the Test captaincy after the series against South Africa and choosing his successor will be a tough job for selectors. Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar thinks that Jasprit Bumrah should be made the vice-captain and groomed for captaincy.

"A fast bowler always goes for a win. I am not saying that the batters don't but it is a little different. Jasprit Bumrah should be made the vice-captain and groomed for captaincy. Groom fast bowlers and all-rounders. This trend of thinking that only batters can be captain is wrong," Akhtar said on Sports Today.

Akhtar further added that fast bowlers can also be great captains citing the example of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

"Why don't you look at fast bowlers as captain. Kapil Dev was a fast bowler, wasn't he a great captain? I don't know why there is this notion that batsmen are more clever than us. For Pakistan, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have all been captains," he said.

Before the start of ODI series against South Africa Jasprit Bumrah had admitted that he will be ready to lead India Test team in case he gets an opportunity.

"If given an opportunity, it will be an honour and I don't see any player would say no and I am no different. Be it any leadership group, I always look to contribute however I can, to the best of my abilities," Bumrah replied to a query from PTI in a press conference last Tuesday.

Besides Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are in contention to get the Test captaincy.