Jasprit Bumrah on Test Captaincy

Bumrah's Approach to Captaincy

Jasprit Bumrah, the stand-in captain of the Indian cricket team, emphasized the importance of trusting his instincts in his new role. When asked about his thought process and how he would approach captaincy, Bumrah said:

"You have to find your own way, you can't blindly copy anyone. Obviously both of them (Rohit and Virat) are very successful and gotten a lot of results, but my way… I've never followed a copybook plan in terms of my bowling as well, as you can see. I've never followed a model and I go with my instincts. That's how I've always played my cricket."

Bumrah's Experience and Confidence

Bumrah has come a long way since his Test debut in South Africa in 2018, taking 173 wickets in 40 matches. He has a strong track record in Australia, with 32 wickets in 7 Tests at an average of just 21.25. Bumrah trusts his bowling acumen to serve him well in his dual role as captain.

"I have a lot of faith in my instincts and gut, so that is what I go with and tactically as a bowler you always make a lot of plans, you're well aware of what to do and what adjustments you have to make during the game. I try to cover all bases as much as I can," Bumrah said.

Challenges and Advantages of Captaincy

Bumrah acknowledges that juggling two critical roles will come with its own challenges, but he sees it as an opportunity to utilize his strengths as a bowler. He believes that his understanding of bowling will help him make informed decisions on the field.

"I can manage myself the best when I am the captain because I know when I am fresh, when I have to push myself and I know when I have to take extra responsibility. Obviously there are different challenges but there are advantages as well, and I look at the advantage that I understand bowling. So you understand when the wicket is changing, what changes you have to make, what field settings are good at this moment," he opined.