Not Rohit Sharma! MS Dhoni identified Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy potential, reveals Matthew Hayden

All eyes are on Jasprit Bumrah as the star speedster is gearing up to take the reins of the Indian cricket team in the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener against Australia in Perth. Bumrah is set to step into the leadership role after Rohit Sharma decided to skip the Perth Test to celebrate the arrival of his second child back in Mumbai.

Ahead of the five-match Test series opener at the Optus Stadium in Perth, starting on November 22, Australian great Matthew Hayden revealed that the iconic captain MS Dhoni had earlier made a prediction that Jasprit Bumrah has the leadership qualities.

Jasprit Bumrah set to lead India in high-pressure Perth Test, as MS Dhoni's early prediction comes true

Hayden said that the former Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who is known for his eye for talent and foresight, had once seen leadership potential in Bumrah long before the world did. And now, that prediction is set to be realized truly, as the Indian pacer is set to lead on Australian soil.

Read Also: 'Could be shorter tenure than Greg Chappell's': Gautam Gambhir brutally mocked ahead of BGT 2024-25

Bumrah first led Team India in the rescheduled Test against England in 2022 at Edgbaston. Despite a disappointing outcome in that match, the speedster showed glimpses of his maturity and ability to handle high-pressure situations. Now, with the Perth Test around the corner, Hayden called Jasprit Bumrah an intelligent and composed leader.

According to the former Australian batter, Bumrah’s sharp cricketing mind and ability to communicate effectively with his teammates make him a natural fit for the role. Hayden is also confident that the Indian pacer would be fully ready for the challenges ahead of him in Perth.

Jasprit Bumrah was touted by MS Dhoni many years ago as a potential captain: Matthew Hayden

Matthew Hayden was quoted as saying by India Today: “From what I understand, not knowing Bumrah on the field as such, not even having played against him, but coming from a great friend and mentor of mine in MS Dhoni, he’s got leadership qualities as well. In fact, he was touted by MS many years ago as a potential captain.”

Hayden further added, “Off the field, I have spent a large amount of time with Jasprit; he’s intelligent, well-organized, and constructive in his comments on the game, which for me reveals he’s got good leadership instincts, and they will come to the fore captaining a very excited and extremely optimistic team coming here, and I’m sure he will be up for it.”

Read Also: Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah clash in practice session ahead of Perth Test

Meanwhile, the Aussie legend Matthew Hayden praised Jasprit Bumrah for his crucial impact in Indian cricket despite playing fewer Tests compared to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Hayden highlighted that despite playing only 40 Tests, Bumrah has already established himself as a key figure across all formats.

He can expose many players because of his immense talent: Matthew Hayden on Bumrah

Matthew Hayden also believes Bumrah will lead from the front, much like Australia’s Pat Cummins, and his bowling will be crucial in helping India gain the upper hand in the Test series. He added, “When you think about Jasprit Bumrah, you think he’s probably played 80 to 100 Tests. It just seems like he’s been a stalwart of Indian cricket across all three formats. The reality is he has played 40 Tests, and that’s a lot of cricket, but it’s not Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and other names that have played a lot more amongst the stalwarts of Indian cricket.”

Hayden signed off by saying, “Bumrah will lead with the ball just like Pat Cummins. He took five wickets in Perth in a losing cause. He is going to lead from the front; the better he bowls, the better his team gets into a position of dominance, and he can expose many players because of his immense talent.”