Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah recently opened up on the distinct leadership styles of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni, sharing how each captain has influenced the side and his development as a player as well. Bumrah, one of the key players who has played under all three captains, has evolved well since his international debut under Dhoni and then under Kohli and Rohit, both as the captain of Mumbai Indians and the Indian team as well.
“Rohit is one of the few captains who has empathy towards bowlers, despite being a batter,” Bumrah told The Indian Express. He praised Sharma’s ability to connect with players on an emotional level, understanding their challenges and being open to feedback. “Rohit is not rigid; he is open to feedback.”
However, Jasprit Bumrah also shared his experiences under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, who led the team to numerous victories, including the 2011 World Cup as well. He also opened up on Virat Kohli’s tenure as captain which was marked by his intense passion and energy as well.
“MS gave me a lot of security quickly. He has a lot of faith in his instinct and doesn’t believe in over-planning,” Bumrah added. This trust and instinct-driven approach, according to Bumrah, provided him with the confidence needed to excel on the international stage. Virat is energy-driven, passionate, and wears his heart on his sleeve,” Bumrah said. He credited Kohli with transforming the team’s fitness standards and maintaining his leadership presence even after stepping down as captain. “Now Virat is not the captain, but he is still a leader. Captaincy is a post, but a team is run by 11 people.”
While talking about his own leadership experience, Jasprit Bumrah, who has led India in both Test matches and T20Is, showed a belief that bowlers possess a unique aptitude for leadership as well. He also opined on the success of legendary bowlers-turned-captains like Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis as example.
“I feel bowlers are smart people because they have to get the batsmen out. We’re right in the firing line. When we lose a game, it’s usually the bowlers who are blamed. So it’s a hard job. Kapil Dev has won us a World Cup. Imran Khan has won a World Cup for Pakistan. So bowlers are the smart ones. I come from a generation where Test cricket used to be shown more on television and for me, till date, it’s the greatest format because I feel that if I do well in that, all other formats will take care of themselves,” Jasprit Bumrah concluded.
