'He is a big example, a fast bowler who takes a lot of responsibility' - Jasprit Bumrah advocates for surge in leadership roles for bowlers
Bowlers have been granted fewer captaincy roles than batters, a notion that the Indian pace-bowling spearhead was quick to challenge.
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Universally recognized as one of the most astute bowlers in the game, Jasprit Bumrah's legacy is unparalleled. His success is largely attributed to the strategic thinking and mental perceptivity he invests in his approach. Regardless of the situation or the pressure he faces, Bumrah consistently devises effective strategies, showcasing his exceptional adaptability and resilience to one and all.
Bumrah asserted that bowlers possessed exceptional intelligence, as they are the ones who are entrusted with the formidable task of dismissing batters. He further elaborated that factors such as contending with the increasingly smaller ground dimensions, bats with larger sweet spots and thicker edges have heightened the challenges for bowlers. These elements, he argued, made the odds of success even slimmer for contemporary bowlers.
“I believe bowlers are the smart people, because they have to get the batsmen out. They are always fighting the odds, because the grounds are smaller, the bats are better,” stated Bumrah at Express Adda held in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
He also emphasized the arduous nature of the job, expressing immense pride in performing it due to the significant courage required and the considerable tension it placed on the body. Bumrah noted that overcoming the aforementioned uncertainties fostered innovative methods of success, ultimately making individuals tougher and more combatively resilient. He asserted that leadership necessitated bravery, thereby strengthening his argument for bowlers as captains.
“It’s a hard job, and I take a lot of pride in doing that job. It takes a lot of guts, puts a lot of strain on your body. Bowlers find new ways of succeeding, fighting the odds makes you a lot braver. I think leadership requires you to be brave,” mentioned Bumrah, while speaking to the Executive Director and the National Sports Editor at the event.
He is a big example, a fast bowler who takes a lot of responsibility: Bumrah on Cummins
The speedster was effusive in his praise for Australian bowling all-rounder, Pat Cummins, highlighting him as a prime prototype of a cricketer who shouldered immense accountability with deep self-esteem. Bumrah noted that Cummins has successfully led his team to triumph in major ICC events, specifically the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the 2021-2023 World Test Championship, both victories coming against India.
“We have seen Pat Cummins doing really well. He is a big example, a fast bowler who takes a lot of responsibility, who takes a lot of pride, won the World Cup, won the WTC,” reasoned Bumrah.
He also cited illustrious fast-bowling legends such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Kapil Dev, and Imran Khan as exemplars to substantiate his argument that bowlers were inherently ingenious. Bumrah acknowledged that while bowlers were indeed intelligent strategists, managing the excessive workload could occasionally place a considerable load on the body. Concluding his argument for bowlers as captains, Bumrah asserted that the acute understanding of the game, coupled with the ability to adapt bowling strategies to field placements, unequivocally demonstrated that bowlers were exceptionally capable leaders in their rights.
“When I was a child, I had seen Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis captaining. Kapil Dev won us a World Cup, Imran Khan has won a World Cup for Pakistan. So, bowlers are the smart ones. It’s just that sometimes, physically it puts a strain on them. Most important thing in cricket is captaincy, how you bowl and how you set fields. Bowlers make very good captains. They understand the sport and understand what they have to do," noted Bumrah.
Notably, Bumrah has captained India in a single Test match and two T20Is.
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