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Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has shared his insights on the distinct captaincy styles of three of India’s most prominent cricket leaders: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Speaking at an event in Ahmedabad, Bumrah, who has played under all three captains, provided a detailed comparison of their approaches and highlighted what makes each of them unique.
Bumrah’s insights on captaincy styles of Dhoni, Kohli and Rohit
Bumrah, who made his international debut under Dhoni in 2016, described his former captain as someone who instilled a sense of security in players. “MS [Dhoni] gave me a lot of security, quickly. He has a lot of faith in his instinct, and doesn’t believe in a lot of planning,” Bumrah was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
In contrast, Bumrah characterized Kohli’s captaincy as energetic and passionate. “Virat [Kohli] is energy-driven, passionate, wears his heart on his sleeve. He pushed us in terms of fitness, and changed the narrative that way,” the right-arm pacer explained.
Bumrah acknowledged Kohli’s significant influence on the team’s mentality and performance, stating that even though Kohli is no longer captain, he remains a vital leader within the squad.
“Now Virat is not the captain, but he is still a leader. Captaincy is a post, but a team is run by 11 people,” the 30-year-old added.
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Bumrah reserved special praise for current India skipper Rohit Sharma, referring to him as the “bowler’s captain.” He highlighted Rohit’s empathy towards bowlers, saying, “Rohit understands players’ emotions and knows what a player is going through. He is not rigid and is open to feedback.” This approach, according to Bumrah, fosters a supportive environment for bowlers to thrive.
Bumrah’s favourite captain
When asked about his favourite captain among the three, Bumrah humorously stated, “There are great captains, but I’ll take my name – I am my favourite captain.” This light-hearted comment reflects his confidence and leadership aspirations, having led India in a few matches, including a Test against England and a T20I series against Ireland.