Jasprit Bumrah, a prominent figure in Indian cricket, has had the privilege of playing under three of the nation’s greatest captains. He attributes his development as a bowler to the unique leadership styles of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.
Bumrah, known for his witty remarks, stated that while he admires all three captains, he considers himself his favorite. In a recent interview with The Indian Express, he delved deeper into his experiences with each captain. Despite his relatively short career – 36 Tests and yet to reach 100 caps in ODIs and T20Is due to factors like Covid-19 breaks and back injuries – Bumrah has quickly established himself as a world-class bowler.
He credits this rapid progress to the valuable lessons learned under each captain. He praised Rohit Sharma, the current Test and ODI captain, for his empathy towards bowlers, a rare quality in a batsman-turned-captain. Bumrah explained, “Rohit is one of the few captains who has empathy towards bowlers, despite being a batsman. He understands players’ emotions and knows what a player is going through. Rohit is not rigid, he is open to feedback.”
Bumrah’s journey began under Dhoni, who gave him the confidence and security he needed after his impressive IPL performances earned him a national call-up. “MS (Dhoni) gave me a lot of security, quickly,” Bumrah said. “He has a lot of faith in his instinct, and doesn’t believe in a lot of planning.”
When Virat Kohli took over as captain, Bumrah credited him for emphasizing fitness and changing the team’s approach. He described Kohli’s leadership as “energy-driven, passionate, [and he] wears his heart on his sleeve.” While Kohli is no longer captain, he continues to be a leader within the team. “Captaincy is a post, but a team is run by 11 people,” Bumrah pointed out.
Bumrah’s insights offer a unique perspective on the distinct leadership styles of India’s top captains, showcasing how they have influenced him and the team’s success.
