With less than 48 hours to go for the first ODI between South Africa and India, Jasprit Bumrah has said that he will respect Virat Kohli's decision of leaving the Test captaincy and focus on the upcoming three-match ODI series. Bumrah, India's stand-in vice-captain for the ODI series addressed and answered a few tough but obvious questions after Kohli relinquished his Test captaincy.
“It’s a personal decision and we respect that. I made my Test debut under him. He will keep contributing in a leadership role. He will keep giving his inputs,” Bumrah said.
“If given an opportunity, it will be an honour and I don't see any player would say no and I am no different. Be it any leadership group, I always look to contribute however I can, to the best of my abilities,” Bumrah on whether he will be open to lead India.
When asked about the change in leadership and how it will affect him, he said, “It doesn’t really affects me. It is about how everyone in the group is addressing the change. Everyone is willing to contribute the best they can. As a team, we are positive and eager to contribute.”
Bumrah was also taunted on the ongoing Test captaincy appointment and the opportunity to work as deputy to KL Rahul, for which he said, “I will help as much as I can. Will help KL with field setting. I will not be taking any pressure of the added responsibility."
The Indian team will have happy memories from their last South Africa tour in the limited-overs format as they won 5-1 in the ODI series and 2-1 in the T20I format. This will be the first time that former ODI captain Kohli will feature in the team after being sacked from the captaincy in the format.
Bumrah was only appointed as the stand-in captain after Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the tour due to injury. KL Rahul who was appointed vice-captain will now take charge of the team in the ODI series.
