India cricketers are doing their best to cope with changes in the team’s leadership, both in terms of coaching staff and captaincy, over the last three months, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has emphasised.
Assigned the vice-captain’s role for the upcoming three-match ODI series versus South Africa that begins in Paarl on Wednesday, Bumrah believes none in the team is in “a weird space” with the changes that have taken place since Team India’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.
“For me, I can say that it doesn’t really make a lot of difference. Yes, we all are here to help in whichever way we can and I think that’s the way all the players are responding to the changes that are happening as well,” Bumrah said during a virtual news conference on Monday.
“Everybody is respectful and they understand how the processes are going. Change is the only constant, so we’re happy. So yeah, everybody is contributing and we are getting a lot of knowledge. Everybody’s trying to contribute towards that.
“So I don’t think anybody is facing a problem or is in a weird space with the change that is happening. Everybody understands the chain. Everybody has played enough cricket to understand that this is the way the game goes and this is how you have to move forward.
“So everyone is there as a team. Everyone in the team is quite positive and quite eager to contribute and go about the change that is happening,” Bumrah asserted.
Vision for ’23 Cup
The three ODIs versus South Africa would be a part of India’s preparation for next year’s 50-over World Cup, Bumrah stressed. “The vision regarding which direction we need to go keeping in mind the 2023 World Cup has to be there.
“If there are any new players coming up, we need to give them equal opportunities as much as possible. Each and every series matters from hereon, as adjusting according to situations will also be another crucial element of our preparation. So yeah, having a vision is very important,” Bumrah said.
“And as for this ODI series, we’re going in with a fresh mindset and need to quickly assess and focus on the variation that’s needed for the bowling group,” he added.
Virat the leader
Bumrah and his teammates came to know about Kohli’s decision to step down as Test captain “at a meeting” soon after the Test in Cape Town.
Speaking about the takeaways from Kohli’s captaincy, Bumrah said: “He’s energy driven, brought the fitness culture and everybody got fitter as a team. His contribution has been immense.
“He has been a very important leader in the group and captain for such a long period of time. His knowledge will be used by us and as a team, his contribution will always be important. He’ll obviously give inputs and suggestions and we all look up to him.”
