‘Bowlers are the smart ones’ – Jasprit Bumrah discusses why bowlers are apt for leadership roles

India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah feels bowlers are the smart ones and they are more than capable of leading the team. Mostly, we have seen that batters are given the onus to lead the team but Bumrah has put his weight behind the bowlers to take on the leadership roles.

The ace pacer is known for his guile and he is known to adapt to the pitch in a jiffy. The fast bowler, who is vice-captain of the Indian Test side, led the team in the postponed fifth Test against England at Edgbaston when regular skipper Rohit Sharma had contracted Covid-19.

But India lost that match by seven wickets however Bumrah has been part of India’s leadership group. Furthermore, Bumrah has led India in a couple of T20Is.

“I feel bowlers are smart people because they have to get the batsmen out,” Bumrah said on Indian Express.

“Bowlers have to do the hard job and are not hiding behind a bat, they’re not hiding behind a flat wicket. We’re right in the firing line. When we lose a game, it’s usually the bowlers who are blamed. So it’s a hard job.

“We’ve seen Pat Cummins doing really well. When I was a child, I’d seen Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis as captains. Kapil Dev has won us a World Cup. Imran Khan has won a World Cup for Pakistan. So bowlers are the smart ones.”

Meanwhile, Bumrah admitted that India is a batting loving country but for him the bowlers drive the game.

“I understand that our country loves big batsmen and fair enough, but for me, bowlers drive the game.

“I come from a generation where test cricket used to be shown more on television and for me, till date, it’s the greatest format because I feel that if I do well in that, all other formats will take care of themselves.”

Bumrah was not picked for the Duleep trophy and he should be back for Bangladesh Tests.