MSK Prasad Backs Jasprit Bumrah's Selection As Vice Captain For South Africa ODIs

Former Indian selector MSK Prasad believes the current selectors have made a right decision by making fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team for the three ODIs against South Africa.

Some felt that with Rohit Sharma absent due to a hamstring injury and KL Rahul leading the side, maybe it was time for someone like a Rishabh Pant or Shreyas Iyer to be named as the deputy. However, the selectors went ahead with Bumrah and MSK Prasad feels it is the right thing to reward Bumrah for his consistent performances across formats.

“Jasprit is a very sensible young man with a lot of rationality. So why not reward him? I like this decision as to why can’t we make a fast bowler captain If he is doing well in all formats?” MSK Prasad told PTI

Prasad also feels that had both Rahul and Rohit not been available, the selectors might have looked at Rishabh Pant or Shreyas Iyer as potential captaincy options. He added:

“Unless you give him an opportunity to be a part of the leadership group, you won’t know what to expect of Jasprit. But having said that, I would also say that possibly since it was a decision on vice-captaincy for one series, it was an easy call. Had it been for captaincy with both Rohit and Rahul unavailable, it could have been different.”

MSK Prasad explains why Pant, Iyer might not have been named vice-captain

MSK Prasad feels that since Shreyas Iyer is returning to ODI cricket after a long time due to a shoulder injury that he had sustained earlier last year, he might not have been in contention to become a vice-captain. Prasad also shed light on Rishabh Pant’s inconsistency in white-ball cricket. Here is what he had to say:

“In the Indian team, you have at least 12-13 top-class talented fellows, who know their exact roles at the biggest stage. Captaining India is at times easier. I think it’s got a lot to do with the fact that Iyer is now coming in after surgery and also Pant needs to be a bit more consistent in the white-ball format.”

Also Read: Ravi Shastri Recalls How He Planned Jasprit Bumrah’s Test Debut In South Africa