NEW DELHI: Pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah is set to lead Team India in a Test match for only the second time after regular skipper Rohit Sharma recently opted out of the series opener in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22 at Perth.
Rohit, 37, reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the team management, and the national selectors last Sunday about his unavailability for the Perth Test. The Indian captain has stayed back in Mumbai to be with his wife, Ritika, after the birth of their second child.
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Despite speculation about his potential travel to Perth, Rohit decided to spend more time with his family, putting an end to the rumours.
In an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, 1983 World Cup winner Kirti Azad reflected on Rohit’s absence. While acknowledging the significance of Rohit’s leadership, Azad maintained that no single player, however influential, is “indispensable”.
“Nobody is weak or strong by one player. But yes, Rohit, being the captain, has led from the front, he will be missed,” Azad said.
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Rohit recently had a lacklustre outing in the Test series against New Zealand, managing only 91 runs at a strike rate of 68.42 across three matches.
Commenting on Rohit’s form, Azad remarked, “Yes. It’s a point of worry. And since he’s been the captain for a long time, nobody’s indispensable. But then again, he is the most important cog in the wheel as far as the Indian team is concerned. So we expect him to do well.”
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Jasprit Bumrah, 30, will shoulder dual responsibilities as the frontline seamer and the team’s captain in Rohit’s absence. When asked if captaincy could affect Bumrah’s performance, Azad drew parallels to the great Kapil Dev, who balanced both roles admirably.
“I played with Kapil Dev, one of the greatest all-rounders in the world. Captaincy never hampered his performances. It depends on the situation. If your team is playing well, and your changes give you results, then you’re a good captain. If it doesn’t give you results, then you’re a bad captain,” Azad told TimesofIndia.com.
Azad also lauded Bumrah as one of the world’s most feared fast bowlers, adding, “I would say that yes, he’s a sensible player. That’s why he’s got so many wickets. He’s one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world. I’m sure he’ll captain well.”
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India head into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with several fresh faces, including Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana.
Reflecting on the inclusion of newcomers, Azad recalled India’s miraculous 2-1 victory in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, achieved despite being bowled out for 36 in the opening Test and injury-induced absences.
“There were new faces in the side when they played Australia last time in Australia. Shardul Thakur was in the Indian team, and you remember how he did what we did. We had Washington Sundar. You know what he did. So cricket is a very funny game. It’s a game of glorious uncertainties,” Azad concluded. “The Indian team is full of surprises. And Writing the series off (before the start) wouldn’t be correct.”