Legendary former cricketer and broadcaster Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that Jasprit Bumrah could be India’s next captain after Rohit Sharma and might take over the role sooner than expected. Praising Bumrah’s leadership qualities, Gavaskar highlighted his ability to lead from the front, offer guidance to his teammates, and avoid placing undue pressure on his bowlers.
Jasprit Bumrah recently captained India in the first and last Tests of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Under his leadership, India secured a commanding victory in the first Test in Perth but faced defeat in the final Test in Sydney, losing by six wickets. Despite the loss, Bumrah’s performance as both a bowler and captain was commendable. However, an injury sidelined him during the final innings in Sydney, giving Australia an easier path to chase a target of 162 on a challenging pitch.
Speaking in a show, Gavaskar expressed confidence in Bumrah’s leadership potential. “He could be the next man. I think he will be the next man. Because he leads from the front. He has got a very good air about him—the air of a leader—but not someone who puts pressure on you. Sometimes you have captains who put a lot of pressure on you,” he said.
Gavaskar further elaborated on Bumrah’s approach, emphasizing his supportive nature. “With Bumrah, you can see that he expects the others to do their job, knowing why they’re in the national team. But he doesn’t seem to pressurize anybody. He’s been absolutely brilliant with the fast bowlers, standing at mid-off or mid-on, always available to guide and advise them. I think he was absolutely brilliant, and I won’t be surprised if he takes over very soon,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy opportunities in Australia arose due to Rohit Sharma’s unavailability for the Perth Test due to personal reasons and his decision to sit out the Sydney game following a string of poor performances. Rohit’s future as India’s Test captain has come under scrutiny after the team’s 3-1 series loss in Australia, raising speculation about potential leadership changes in the near future.
