Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh backed Team India’s white-ball captain Rohit Sharma to lead the side in Tests also. He also said if the senior opener is not ready to take the role then Jasprit Bumrah should succeed Virat Kohli as the new Test skipper.
Ahead of the South Africa tour, Rohit Sharma was made the vice-captain of the Indian Test team in place of Ajinkya Rahane. However, he suffered a hamstring injury and was further ruled out of the whole tour.
Following Virat Kohli’s decision to step down as the Indian Test skipper, there have been many speculations regarding who’ll carry his legacy as a skipper in the longest format of the game.
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With Rohit being India’s white-ball skipper and vice-captain of the Test team, he is likely to be the front-runner for the role of captain in the longest format of the game. Although there’s no official confirmation but many reports have also suggested the same.
Speaking on Sports Tak, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said that if Rohit Sharma is completely fit, he should captain Team India in all three formats of the game.
"According to me, Rohit Sharma should be the captain of all three formats. If he is totally fit then he should captain all three formats," Harbhajan said.
Singh suggested that if Rohit Sharma doesn’t want to take the burden of Test captaincy then Jasprit Bumrah should be considered for the role. He cited the example of 1983 World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev to justify his claims.
"If Rohit feels that he doesn't want to captain all three formats. Then in Test cricket, I am on Jasprit Bumrah's side. He should be given the captaincy because a fast bowler is always thought that they think too big. Kapil Dev was also a bowler. Why can't a bowler be captain? I want to know this,” he said.
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Harbhajan Singh said that Jasprit Bumrah is the biggest match-winner of Team India and should be considered for the role of Test captain if Rohit Sharma is not available.
"Among match-winners in Team India, Jasprit Bumrah is better than them. How many matches Jasprit Bumrah has won us, probably only one bowler has done that. So Jasprit Bumrah for Test cricket captaincy if Rohit Sharma is not available," he concluded.
Rohit Sharma will next be seen in action when India will take on West Indies in the ODI series, starting 6th February. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the matches against the Kieron Pollard-led side.
(Sports Tak inputs)
