'A fast bowler always goes for a win' - Shoaib Akhtar explains why Jasprit Bumrah must be considered for captaincy

Virat Kohli shocked the world when he decided to step down as Team India’s Test captain a couple of weeks ago following a 1-2 Test series loss to South Africa. While it has been reported that the current white-ball captain Rohit Sharma is set to be appointed as Kohli’s successor, it was also learned that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was in the scheme of things to be named the leader of the Indian Test team.

After reports confirmed Rohit’s appointment as India’s next Test skipper, it was also learned that either Bumrah or KL Rahul could be named his deputy. However, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar reckons that a fast bowler must lead India in the traditional format and even went on to give the 1983 World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev’s example.

“Why don’t you look at fast bowlers as captain. Kapil Dev was a fast bowler, wasn’t he a great captain? I don’t know why there is this notion that batsmen are more clever than us. For Pakistan, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have all been captains,” said Akthar while speaking to Sports Today.

Jasprit Bumrah must be groomed for captaincy: Shoaib Akhtar

At the same time, the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ opined that a fast bowler as a skipper never settles for anything less than a win, and backing Jasprit Bumrah completely, he added that the premier pacer should be named vice-captain and groomed for captaincy.

“A fast bowler always goes for a win. I am not saying that the batters don’t but it is a little different. Jasprit Bumrah should be made the vice-captain and groomed for captaincy. Groom fast bowlers and all-rounders. This trend of thinking that only batters can be captain is wrong,” he said.

India’s next Test assignment will be during the two-match home series against Sri Lanka next month. While the first game will be played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on February 25, the final Test will be played at Mohali’s PCA Stadium on March 5. Despite the recent away debacle in South Africa, India would be looking forward to keeping their unbeaten run in the home Test series intact.