Former India fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji has backed Jasprit Bumrah to succeed as a Test captain. There are signs that Bumrah will eventually become Rohit Sharma’s successor. Balaji, however, cautioned against expecting immediate results from Bumrah and encouraged the notion of having fast bowlers take up captaincy.
For the first time since Kapil Dev, India entrusted the captaincy to a fast bowler in Jasprit Bumrah. The generational talent led India in 2022 during the England tour but did not achieve success. Since then, Bumrah has been an integral part of the leadership group in the Indian Test team. Ahead of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah was appointed vice-captain. After Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the first Test, it was confirmed that Bumrah would step in as the stand-in captain for the series opener, starting November 22 in Perth.
Bumrah’s workload has always been a significant talking point in Indian cricket circles. However, the fast bowler has managed to stay injury-free since returning from a lengthy layoff prior to the ODI World Cup last year. While addressing the media, Bumrah expressed confidence in his ability to meet the dual demands of captaincy and fast bowling in the Perth Test, especially with his pace partner Mohammed Shami unavailable.
Shami is set to miss at least the first Test of the five-match series. The veteran pacer was not included in the initial 18-member squad as he failed to regain peak fitness in time following a year-long injury hiatus.
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Speaking to IndiaToday.in, L Balaji expressed his support for Jasprit Bumrah, offered insights into the Mohammed Shami situation, and addressed the issue of batters sustaining injuries during net practice in Australia’s bouncy conditions.
Excerpts from the interview:
Question: Are you looking forward to a fast bowler leading India in the Perth?
Balaji: Every cricketer would love to go to Australia. And when you have the opportunity to lead and be the primary bowler, it will only propel Jasprit higher in his career.
However, there shouldn’t be too many expectations from him. He is a young captain, and that needs to be understood. It’s a great opportunity not only for him but for the entire team. We all know Australians play their cricket hard, and at times, there will be a flared-up environment.
I think if they learn to understand and perform in Australia, they will gain a lot. Many cricketers who have excelled in Australia have gone on to become greats of the game. We’ve seen Sachin Tendulkar, who scored his first century in Perth, and from there, he never looked back. We’ve also seen Virat Kohli and VVS Laxman announce themselves during Australian tours, which improved their career graphs significantly.
Question: Can Bumrah meet the demands of being a fast bowler and captain?
Balaji: I think it’s not impossible for a fast bowler to meet the demands of leading in Test cricket. Imran Khan showed that a fast bowler can be a shrewd captain. He was exceptional in all aspects — leadership, batting, and bowling.
Fast bowling is especially demanding. You’ll be tired after long spells, yet you still have to call the shots.
But I think Bumrah is ready for it. He has played enough cricket to understand the demands of the game. He has been on two tours to Australia, and that experience shapes you into a different player.
Question: Can India look at Bumrah as a full-time captain in the future?
Balaji: I think Bumrah is in the right frame of mind. Hopefully, his body also copes with the demands for a longer period — fingers crossed. If that happens, leadership will be about how he gets the best out of his team.
Cricket is not a one-man game. Rohit Sharma has already built a great culture in the dressing room. Bumrah must have learnt a lot from Rohit during his time with the Mumbai Indians.
I’m sure he has had many discussions with Rohit, observed him, and absorbed his methods.
Bumrah’s experience will only make him stronger when it comes to decision-making. We all know what an incredible player he is; he can change the match situation with the ball at any moment.
The players will need to adapt to his style, but that will take time. You can’t expect players to respond immediately because a new captain always brings fresh ideas and direction.
First, Bumrah needs to lead by example, and eventually, it will become second nature for his teammates to follow him.
I think he has a lot to look forward to over the next two-and-a-half months.
Question: What would you tell young bowlers like Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy ahead of their first tour of Australia? How did you and Irfan Pathan face the challenge of playing against Pakistan when you were new to Test cricket?
Balaji: We were very fortunate. When Irfan Pathan and I were young and new to the team, we had senior players like Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, and Anil Kumble guiding us. We were also privileged to have greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly.
I’m sure the seniors in this era will guide the youngsters who are touring Australia for the first time.
It’s important not to place too much pressure on them. At the end of the day, cricket is played over 22 yards, whether in Australia or India. It’s played with bat and ball. The key is to avoid overcomplicating the game.
I hope the seniors guide the youngsters in a straightforward manner. The young pacers should stay natural and develop in their own way.
Question: Should India get Mohammed Shami in the squad if he attains peak fitness soon?
Absolutely. Six to seven months ago, he was part of the lethal trio — Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Bumrah. It’s always a massive challenge for any opposition team when three pacers hunt together. They can keep applying relentless pressure. They consistently took wickets and proved themselves time and again.
If Shami is fully fit and able to prove it, why not have him in the set-up? He can add tremendous value to the team.
Question: What’s your take on batters getting injured in the nets in Australia? Will bowlers think twice about going full-tilt in training?
Balaji: You can’t protect anyone from injuries. Once you’re selected, everyone gives their best. Even during preparation, they put their best foot forward.
Yes, injuries have occurred in the past, and they’ll happen in the future. Whether it’s during training or a match, injuries are an inherent part of any sportsperson’s life. You can’t predict or prevent them by being overly conservative.
Injuries also bring opportunities. For instance, Labuschagne wouldn’t have played had Smith not been injured. While injuries are unfortunate for the affected player, they provide a chance for someone else to launch their career. It’s simply part and parcel of the game.
