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India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has expressed high praise for Jasprit Bumrah's leadership skills ahead of the first Test against Australia. With regular captain Rohit Sharma unavailable due to paternity leave, Bumrah will once again lead the Indian team.
Morne Morkel's honest assessment of Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy
Bumrah previously captained India in the rescheduled fifth Test against England in 2022 and also led the team in the recent ODI series against New Zealand. Despite the team's performance in those series, Morkel believes Bumrah's leadership qualities and experience can guide the young Indian pace bowlers through the challenging Australian conditions.
Morkel highlighted Bumrah's natural leadership abilities, his ability to inspire the team, and his understanding of the game. He believes that Bumrah can set a strong example for the younger bowlers and help them develop their skills and mindset.
“Jassi is a guy who immediately put his hands up and wanted the leadership role. He has been very successful in the past, he knows what to expect, and he speaks well in the dressing room. He is a guy who will lead from the front with the ball in hand and younger guys will follow him,” Morkel said in the pre-match press conference.
Morkel further suggested that experienced players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul can provide valuable guidance and support to Bumrah, helping him navigate the challenges of captaincy and lead the team effectively.
“For him, it’s an exciting challenge ahead. But again, we have got Virat (Kohli), KL (Rahul) and a lot of experienced guys who will help him and I’m sure when he is bowling, it will bring a bit of calmness into the team. In terms of leadership and how he looks at the game, he’s a natural leader for me,” Morkel further stated.
With an impressive record of 32 wickets in seven Tests, including a six-wicket haul, Jasprit Bumrah has proven to be a formidable force on Australian soil. India, having successfully conquered Australia in the previous two Test series, will be aiming for a historic third consecutive series win on Australian soil.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has sustained an injury ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener in Perth.
According to reports from journalists Ben Horne and Dan Cherny, who were present at the Perth Stadium during India's practice sessions, Jasprit Bumrah sustained a shoulder injury while batting in the nets. The incident occurred when he was struck by a delivery from a net bowler. Despite the initial pain, Bumrah appeared to recover quickly and was later seen interacting with the net bowlers.
