Jasprit Bumrah is set to captain Team India in the opening match of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, as Rohit Sharma will miss the first Test due to personal reasons. This will mark Bumrah’s fourth time leading the Indian team, with the pacer stepping up to fill the void left by Rohit, who is expected to join the squad for the second Test in Adelaide, starting December 4. Bumrah, who is the vice-captain of the team, will take on the leadership role for the five-match series opener, which kicks off on November 22.
While this will be Bumrah’s first Test as captain in 2023, he has had previous experience leading India. He captained the Indian side in a single Test match in 2022 when Rohit Sharma was unavailable due to Covid-19. That match was the rescheduled fifth Test against England in Birmingham, where India suffered a 7-wicket defeat. Despite the loss, Bumrah’s brief captaincy stint marked an important moment in his career.
In addition to his Test captaincy experience, Bumrah has also led India in T20 internationals. During the 2023 tour to Ireland, Bumrah captained the team in place of Hardik Pandya, who was rested. Bumrah guided India to two victories in the T20I series, showcasing his leadership skills in the shortest format of the game.
Bumrah will now lead the Indian team against Australia, who will be captained by another fast bowler, Pat Cummins. This Test will be Cummins' 29th as Australia’s captain. In his previous 28 Tests as captain, Cummins has led Australia to 17 victories, 6 losses, and 5 draws, making him one of the most successful captains in recent times. The clash between two fast bowlers leading their respective teams will add an exciting element to the much-anticipated series.
The decision for Bumrah to captain the team was confirmed by India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, during a pre-tour press conference before the squad left for Australia. Gambhir stated, "Bumrah is vice-captain; if Rohit is not available, he is going to lead in Perth," making it clear that Bumrah would step into the captaincy role in Rohit's absence.
Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, stayed back in India for the birth of his second child and will rejoin the squad ahead of the second Test in Adelaide. His absence from the opening match in Perth will be a significant moment for Bumrah, who will have the opportunity to lead the team in a high-profile series against the reigning World Test Championship holders.
As India looks to start the series strongly, Bumrah’s leadership will be crucial, particularly given his wealth of experience as one of the team’s senior players and the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack. With the series set to begin on November 22, all eyes will be on Bumrah as he leads the team against a formidable Australian side led by Cummins.
