Former BCCI selector MSK Prasad believes that Jasprit Bumrah has all the credentials to make a good captain and he lauds the selectors’ decision to give him vice-captaincy role for the ODI series against South Africa later this month. On Friday, the BCCI announced an 18-man squad for the ODI series, and since Rohit Sharma was unavailable for the series, KL Rahul will lead the side in the 3-match series.
However, there are talks in the cricket fraternity that Rishabh Pant or Shreyas Iyer should have been given the vice-captaincy duties since both of them had proven themselves as a leader in IPL while Bumrah doesn’t have that experience. But former India wicketkeeper batter MSK Prasad believes that Bumrah has been rewarded for his consistent performance in all three formats. Prasad believes that it was an easy decision for selectors to make.
“Jasprit is a very sensible young man with a lot of rationality. So why not reward him? I like this decision as to why can’t we make a fast bowler captain If he is doing well in all formats?” said Prasad.
However, Prasad said that Pant or Iyer would have been preferred if it was a case of captaincy.
“Unless you allow him to be a part of the leadership group, you won’t know what to expect of Jasprit. But having said that, I would also say that possibly since it was a decision on vice-captaincy for one series, it was an easy call. Had it been for captaincy with both Rohit and Rahul unavailable, it could have been different,” he added.
Prasad also pointed out that other options (Pant or Iyer) are no certainties in the XI as the selectors made a decision with keeping an eye on World Cup 2023.
“I think it’s got a lot to do with the fact that Iyer is now coming in after surgery and also Pant needs to be a bit more consistent in the white-ball format. Also, this my assumption that since till 2023, Rohit will remain the captain and KL will be his deputy, making Pant or Iyer vice-captain now means that you give them an idea that they are in leadership mix which might not be the case,” he added further.
The ODI series between India and South Africa will begin on January 19 in Paarl.