India’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma has endorsed the decision to appoint Jasprit Bumrah as the vice-captain for the upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand. In a recent press conference, Rohit praised Bumrah’s cricketing acumen and his integral role within the leadership group, describing the fast bowler as someone with a deep “understanding” of the game.
The surprise elevation of Bumrah to vice-captaincy comes ahead of the series opener on Wednesday. India did not have an official vice-captain during their recent Test series against Bangladesh, making Bumrah’s appointment significant. This move is also seen as a potential precursor to Bumrah taking on captaincy duties during India’s tour of Australia, as Rohit is expected to miss at least one Test due to personal commitments.
“Bumrah has played a lot of cricket and understands the game pretty well,” Rohit explained. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders and is someone who can be relied on to step up when leadership is needed. While he hasn’t captained much, his tactical understanding is growing.”
Bumrah has previously led India in the rescheduled Test against England in 2022 and captained the T20I series against Ireland. Rohit expressed confidence in Bumrah’s ability to step into leadership when required, reaffirming his status as a crucial part of India’s leadership team.
Rohit also emphasized the need for a stronger pace-bowling bench to support the team through injuries. Reflecting on recent setbacks, such as the delayed recovery of Mohammed Shami and Yash Dayal’s injury, he highlighted the importance of building depth in India’s bowling lineup. “We want to ensure we’re not overly reliant on a few individuals,” he said. “We’re looking to the future and want to build a solid pool of pace bowlers to maintain balance and consistency.”
As India prepares for the series against New Zealand, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Bumrah embraces his expanded role and how India’s leadership evolves in the Test format.
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