India’s White Ball Captain: Ashish Nehra gives a weird suggestion, ‘make Bumrah t20 captain’ – Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra has thrown his weight behind Jasprit Bumrah to be named as India’s white-ball captain as the Men in Blue eye a change in leadership in the shorter formats of the game. Incumbent captain Virat Kohli has made it known that he would be stepping down as skipper from the T20Is, reports suggest that the 33-year-old could give up the armband in the 50-over format as well. While KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are amongst favourites to succeed him along with vice-captain Rohit Sharma, Nehra has surprisingly thrown his weight behind fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s White Ball Captain: Ashish Nehra gives weird suggestion, ‘make Bumrah T20 captain’
Ashish Nehra made a bold choice when asked to make a pick for India’s next white-ball captain as the debate surrounding Virat Kohli’s future continues. The former CSK star stumped one and all by naming Jasprit Bumrah as his candidate, suggesting that he is the only player to be part of all the three Indian squads while favourites KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have both been on benched in either of the three formats in recent times.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Nehra said, “After Rohit Sharma, we are hearing the names of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul [as contenders]. Rishabh Pant has travelled around the world but has also carried drinks and has even been left out from the team before. KL Rahul returned to Test cricket because Mayank Agarwal was injured… So Jasprit Bumrah can be an option too. As Ajay [Jadeja] said, he’s sturdy, a certainty in the team, and is always in the XI for all formats. It’s nowhere written in the rule book that fast bowlers can’t be captains.”
India’s White Ball Captain: Ashish Nehra gives weird suggestion, ‘make Bumrah T20 captain’
Earlier, Insidesport had revealed that Rohit Sharma will succeed Virat Kohli as white-ball captain, while KL Rahul will be groomed for the role as his deputy. While Virat Kohli is insistent on leading the team in the 50-over format, BCCI belive that split captaincy for all three formats will create confusion especially with ICC events lined up for the next couple of years.
“3 Captains for 3 formats will create a lot of confusion. We want the flow of ideas & direction to be very smooth. We feel India should have the same ODI & T20 Captain & Rohit Sharma in the current scheme of things is the best choice. Selectors will take the final call in the next meeting. Whatever good is for the Indian cricket, the decision will be taken accordingly,” declared one of the top BCCI officials.