Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, on Monday said “it will be an honour” for him if he is asked to lead India in Tests and he would
accept the opportunity as he doesn’t feel “any player would say no” to
the captaincy role. The position of India’s Test captaincy has been left vacant
by Virat Kohli on Saturday as he has stepped down from the position following
India’s 2-1 defeat against South Africa.

Also Read: One match makes no difference: Kohli rejects BCCI’s farewell match offer

Now there are speculations and questions about who
could be his long-term successor considering that Rohit Sharma will be 35 next
year and KL Rahul 30 in April.

“If given an opportunity, it will be an honour
and I don’t see any player (who) would say no and I am no different,”
Bumrah told PTI at a press conference ahead of the ODI series, starting January
19.

Also Read: Who will be India’s next Test captain as Virat Kohli steps down?

The 28-year-old fast bowler has been named Rahul’s
deputy for the three-match ODI series against South Africa.

“Be it any leadership group, I always look to
contribute however I can, to the best of my abilities,” he added.

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Bumrah said taking responsibility and helping
teammates comes naturally to him.

“I look at
this situation in the same manner…taking responsibility and talking to
players and helping them out has always been my approach and it will always be
my approach going further keeping any situation in mind,” said Bumrah, who
played 67 ODIs, 27 Tests and 55 T20Is for India.

Also Read: Gambhir hails ‘relentless’ Indian pacer as one of the best in Test cricket

“What’s
there in post? My role remains same”

The India pace spearhead believes that there would
be no tangible change in his role although he is the vice-captain now.

“Having post or not doesn’t matter. I always
focus on how I can contribute,” he said.

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“For me, the role doesn’t change at all. I have
to do my job first, isn’t it? Trying to contribute as much as I can and then
helping KL if he needs any assistance on the field and sharing a bowler’s
mindset on what kind of fields you can keep that I always look to do,”
Bumrah said.

In fact, he has done all this and more even when he
wasn’t the vice-captain.

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“Even when I am not vice-captain, I try to talk
to some of the younger guys, have a lot of discussions on what kind of fields
that need to be set and the same role I will try to do that again as well.

“No specific role or added pressure I am going
to take. Yes, helping KL in any way possible and trying to keep a calm
head.”

Also Read: Virat Kohli steps down as India Test captain

“Change
is the only constant”

The Indian team management, following Virat Kohli’s
complete exit from captaincy roles across formats, bears a new look but Bumrah
doesn’t see “anything weird” and believes that one needs to respect
the new set-up that’s in place and start moving ahead.

“I can’t speak for everyone but I can say that
for me, it doesn’t really make much of a difference. I am here to help all in
whatever way I can. All the players are responding to the changes that have
happened and everybody is respectful and understand how the processes are
going.” “Change is the only constant and we are happy everybody is contributing
and we are getting (acquiring) a lot of knowledge and trying to contribute to
that. I don’t think anybody is facing a problem or is in a weird space with the
change that is happening,” Bumrah spoke for himself.

Also Read: Virat Kohli steps down as Test captain: A look at his captaincy record in Tests

“No responsibility, no fun”

“Everybody understands change and have played
enough cricket to understand that this is the way the game goes and this is how
you move forward. So everyone in the team is quite positive and eager to
contribute. I always love asking questions and welcome new perspective There is
no fun if there is no responsibility,” said Bumrah.

“If there is no responsibility or pressure,
where is the fun? I look forward to fulfilling my responsibilities,” he
said when asked how much he will have to mould himself for the new role.

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“As a bowler, when I first came into the team,
I used to ask a lot of questions and I asked as many questions as possible to
the seniors and in this transition phase if anyone asks me questions, the
younger lot, I share my experience with them, sometimes, their inputs also
help.

“If a new guy comes in and gives a fresh
perspective, we take that seriously.”