Virender Sehwag has named his choice for the vice-captaincy role in India’s T20I squad. The former India opener has snubbed the likes of wicket-keeper batsmen KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant while picking pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the role.
The Indian cricket team is set to enter a new phase with the arrival of head coach Rahul Dravid and a new T20I captain, most likely in the form of Rohit Sharma. However, the debate over the vice-captain’s role in the shortest format of the game is also a hot and debatable one. While KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are the names that have been spoken about a lot, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has another name in mind.
Virender Sehwag: There Can’t Be A Better Option Than Jasprit Bumrah As Vice-Captain Who Plays All 3 Formats
KL Rahul has the experience of captaincy through his stint with Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Rishabh Pant is another name that has been floated, with the wicket-keeper batsman showing his leadership skills in the IPL 2021, too, with the Delhi Capitals after Shreyas Iyer’s injury.
However, Virender Sehwag feels considering the consistency that Jasprit Bumrah has shown over the years, he should be sitting top of the contenders for vice-captaincy debate in T20Is among fans and experts.
“You make your captain or vice-captain someone who plays all three formats. So there can’t be a better option than Jasprit Bumrah among players who play all three formats. No doubt, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, among others, are certainly there but do they play all three formats or will they do so in the future? Will they be able to perform as consistently as Jasprit Bumrah?”, Sehwag said.
The Indian cricket team hasn’t had an out-and-out fast-bowler leading the team in the past. Even 1983 World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev was an all-rounder while Anil Kumble, a leg-spinner, led the team for a brief period of time in Tests.
Virender Sehwag Feels Jasprit Bumrah Could Be The Best Choice For Vice Captaincy
Considering the current scenario, however, Virender Sehwag feels Jasprit Bumrah would be the ideal choice for vice-captaincy in India’s T20I side. Rohit Sharma’s formal appointment as India’s next T20I skipper could be only a few days away. With Virat Kohli set to step down after the T20 World Cup 2021 concludes, Rohit Sharma is the odds-on favourite to take up the job.
“There have been very few such occasions in Indian cricket, perhaps Kapil Dev was the only fast-bowler who captained and then Anil Kumble became captain as a bowler. Apart from these, there hasn’t been any other name of a fast-bowler or spinner becoming the captain or being good enough for being a captain or vice-captain… But in today’s day and age, I think Bumrah could be the best choice for vice-captaincy.”
While the selectors are yet to officially stamp on a name for the captaincy role in the shortest format, Virender Sehwag feels Jasprit Bumrah should be groomed into the leadership role, and for that to happen, handing him the vice-captain’s responsibility would be ideal.
“When he’ll become and play as the vice-captain, he’ll get groomed to right? And whoever the selectors make the captain, Jasprit Bumrah can be his vice-captain. It’s not necessary that Rohit Sharma will be the captain. But Bumrah can certainly be the vice-captain,” Sehwag further explained.
Unlike the other names in the vice-captain’s debate, the only factor working against Jasprit Bumrah is prior experience. Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t officially been given a leadership role at his IPL franchise Mumbai Indians. But, the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and even Shreyas Iyer have played that role in T20 cricket.
Rohit Sharma is likely to be rested from India’s forthcoming bilateral limited-overs assignment against New Zealand, which means the selectors will need to put a temporary captain for the series too. KL Rahul could don the captain’s hat as keeping in mind the players’ fatigue due to the bio- bubble life, some senior players will be rested for the T20I series against New Zealand.