Wasim Jaffer said Cheteshwar Pujara’s experience as a cricketer and captain made him a much better option than someone like Jasprit Bumrah who hasn’t led any side in any form of the game.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer said “it would have more sense” to make Cheteshwar Pujara the captain of India for the rescheduled fifth Test against England instead of Jasprit Bumrah. Less than 24 hours before the rescheduled 5th Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham, India named Jasprit Bumrah as their captain after designated skipper Rohit Sharma was ruled out with another Covid-19 positive test on Thursday morning.
Wasim Jaffer: Jasprit Bumrah Is Inexperienced As A Skipper And Cheteshwar Pujara Should Have Been Assigned Skipper Instead
The Edgbaston Test will be treated as the fifth Test match of last year’s series. The match, originally slated to take place in Manchester, was postponed due to Covid-19 cases in the Indian camp last year.
Wasim Jaffer said considering the importance of the match – India lead 2-1 and a win or a draw would give them a Test series win in England after 15 years – it would have been “tempting” to opt for an experienced campaigner like Cheteshwar Pujara as the captain.
“I have seen Pujara lead in first-class cricket. He is a decent enough leader. He has played 90 (95) odd Tests, so I feel it would have made more sense to go with him,” Wasim Jaffer said.
“Bumrah was vice-captain previously so obvious for him to become captain but knowing the importance of the match, knowing that the series is on the line, I would have been tempted to look at Cheteshwar Pujara. Bumrah hasn’t captain at all. For him to lead in such a Test without experience ut you never know. Bumrah looks intelligent, and has got great game sense so he might surprise us as Hardik Pandya did,” Jaffer added.
Jasprit Bumrah has got a chance to bowl in 56 innings of these 29 matches he played. Playing more than 70% of his Test career matches away from home, the lad has scalped 123 wickets with an appreciable average of 21.73 and an economy rate of 2.65. He has claimed 8 five-wicket hauls in his career so far.
Wasim Jaffer Reckons Cheteshwar Pujara Being Dropped For Sri Lanka Tests Might Have Played A Part For Not Being Considered Skipper
Jasprit Bumrah will become the first pacer after the legendary Kapil Dev to lead in a Test match. Wasim Jaffer said the fact that Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped for the series against Sri Lanka might have played a part in him not being considered for the leadership role.
“That (Pujara’s place in the XI) might have played a part. He was dropped previously and now has been called back so giving him the captaincy for this one Test might have been a questionable thing. Even in South Africa, I had said that it would’ve been wise to go to Ajinkya Rahane instead of KL Rahul. Rahane has won you a Test series in Australia,” Jaffer added.
KL Rahul led the Indian team for the first time in the South Africa tour after Virat Kohli missed the Johannesburg Test due to an injury. Wasim Jaffer, however, felt Ajinkya Rahane should’ve been given the baton instead.
Ajinkya Rahane had captained India in 6 Tests, remaining unbeaten with 4 wins and 2 draws. Ajinkya Rahane was last appointed as the captain of the Indian team for the first Test against New Zealand in November 2021, as Virat Kohli had been rested. But KL Rahul, who had replaced Ajinkya Rahane as India’s Test vice-captain, stood in for the Delhi-born Virat Kohli when he was injured for the 2nd Test against and in South Africa.
Cheteswhwar Pujara made a comeback to the Indian side after scoring bulk runs in the County Championship for Sussex. When asked whether it would have been wise to ask Virat Kohli about leading the Test for the decider, Wasim Jaffer said the former India captain perhaps would not have considered.
“Yes, I’m sure Virat would have been the first man to be asked but I doubt whether he would have accepted,” Jaffer said.
After scoring 720 runs in 8 innings (5 games) of the county championship with an average of 120, Cheteshwar Pujara made selectors look at him and give him a call back to the national team for the remaining Test match against England. He was axed for the home Sri Lanka Test series for poor form.
Cheteshwar Pujara also played very well in this inconclusive Test series. The 34-year-old senior batter scored 227 runs in four matches against hosts England last year with an average of 32.43, hitting 2 half-centuries.