Krisnamachari Srikkanth, the former Indian cricketer and 1983 World Cup champion, has raised apprehensions regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy ambitions in light of Hardik Pandya’s return to the Mumbai Indians (MI).
Srikkanth suggests that Bumrah, who may have envisioned leading the team in the future, could face challenges with Pandya rejoining MI after a successful tenure with the Gujarat Titans.
Pandya’s triumph as captain with the Titans in IPL 2022 adds complexity to the team’s leadership dynamics. Srikkanth expresses concerns about potential clashes between Bumrah and Pandya in their aspirations for captaincy. Bumrah, a revered bowler and team figure, might feel hindered in his leadership goals with Pandya back in the picture.
Bumrah’s recent cryptic Insta story, stating “Silence is sometimes the best answer,” following Pandya’s return, adds a layer of intrigue. Srikkanth, commenting on his YouTube channel, acknowledges Bumrah’s world-class status in cricket but speculates on feelings of regret, ego, or disappointment regarding the team’s celebration of Pandya’s return.
“He might be regretting. It could be his ego, or he might be hurt by the fact that he stayed back at MI and gave his all, but the team is bringing back someone who had left and celebrating him. He feels it’s not fair,” Srikkanth said.
Drawing parallels to a past situation with Ravindra Jadeja and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Srikkanth suggests MI could handle the Bumrah-Pandya dynamic akin to how CSK managed the Jadeja-Dhoni scenario. Despite recognizing Bumrah’s leadership potential, Srikkanth underscores the need to address concerns leading to Pandya’s reinstatement, hinting at underlying issues like differing leadership styles or compatibility.
