Rohit Sharma already excited about leading in England – if Bumrah, Shami and Siraj can sing together, why not? | Cricket News

Speculation about his future can continue till the cows come home but in Rohit Sharma’s world, he remains India’s captain for the post-IPL five-Test series in England. On a podcast with former Australia captain Michael Clarke this week, he wasn’t the Mumbai Indians (MI) impact player brooding over his IPL form, but a self-assured captain looking ahead to a long challenging tour in whites. He was being Rohit, totally cut off from the noise made his doubters. Some may call that space a ‘bubble’.In the first part of the chat, Charke mentions the series in Australia that India lost. Rohit opens up. Surprisingly, he shares details about his ‘argument’ with the head coach and chief selector over his decision to sit out the Sydney Test. Unlike the uproar over The Indian Express report about Gambhir cracking the whip at Melbourne at the start of this year and the subsequent preachy ‘what happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room’ stance of the team management, this time there is no saintly posturing about breach of the team’s trust. That’s a story for another day, back to the Clarke podcast.
As expected, early in the conversation the two captains talk about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Clarke observes how India, or rather Jasprit Bumrah, had missed his old pace partner Mohammed Shami in Australia. Rohit agrees and hopes the two, and even others, survive the IPL’s frenetic pace to be fresh for England. “It is not about bowling just four overs but the travel is challenging. Hope these guys finish the IPL very well, without concern. Others also. Hope we are a fully fit team for England, we will have a great series,” he says.
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The 30-minute casual cricket talk ends with a deeply obliged Clarke profusely thanking Rohit for giving him time. the way, this was on a day when MI had a game. Just as the niceties are exchanged, the Aussie inside Clarke comes out. “So good luck in England, hope you beat the Poms,” he chirps. Rohit smiles and gives a knowing nod.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami haven’t played a Test together in three years. (BCCI)
Terrific trioIt’s easy to understand Rohit’s eagerness to lead in England. Which Indian captain would not be excited to be in charge of a pace attack that has Bumrah, Shami and Mohammed Siraj in England? Ask MS Dhoni, he once took the field with a semi-retired RP Singh, whose first ball reached him after bouncing twice.
It’s been a while since India had Bumrah, Shami and Siraj fit and bowling together. The last time Bumrah and Shami bowled together in a Test was in 2022. Only one of the three were part of India’s triumphant ICC Champions Trophy campaign just before the IPL. Fighting injuries, they were at the great Indian cricket garage at Bengaluru – the Centre of Excellence. Mended, oiled and greased – they look serviced, purring at the top of their run-up.
A few days after the Clarke podcast, Rohit was part of the game that had Bumrah and Shami. MI were playing Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede. The Indian captain would have loved what he saw.Story continues below this ad
It wasn’t a track where the ball flew – a rare low-scoring match where spinners too were in the game. To judge the pacers’ Test preparedness from the four overs bowled in a T20 game would be preposterous. Proven pros, like Bumrah and Shami though, can be trusted to drop hints. There is a certain rhythm about their bowling which shouts at you, conveying that the wheels and chakras within them are moving.
“Ball achcha nikal raha hai” – say the pacers in the country’s north on those perfect days. Bumrah and Siraj have had those days in the IPL. The same can’t be said of Shami. But those at Wankhede say that the day isn’t too far. He was purring.
First, how Bumrah tamed the IPL’s batting buccaneers. Such was the hype around the game at the venue with short boundaries that Dale Steyn predicted a 300 score. Bumrah against SRH should be put on a video and played on loop at most academies. It also explains why MI batting coach Kieron Pollard calls him Mufasa, Disney’s wise Lion King.
Many weapons in the arsenalFor a pacer with limitless variety, he took the field with just two variations – the yorker and the slower one. Those were his chosen weapons for the day. For if bowlers like Bumrah are able to bowl the way they want, wickets become an eventuality. His plan was to restrict openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma with slower balls, and he managed to do so. With those supersonic yorkers up his sleeve, the change of pace ploy works wonderfully.Story continues below this ad
The bowler to let out the loudest roar post the injury break has been Siraj. (Reuters)
In that reassuring spell, Bumrah showed that his latest injury scare hadn’t impacted his speed. He got Heinrich Klaasen with that ‘rocket full toss’ of his. Since he leans over the crease in his final delivery stride and delays his release point, Bumrah, in a way, shortens the pitch length for himself. His backspin makes it difficult for batsmen to read the trajectory right. Pace and poise, both are intact. The new ball is in safe hands this England tour.
After the break, it was Shami’s chance to take the stage. With Rohit opening, he would have had a close look at the bowler who he and Clarke hoped would be Bumrah’s partner soon. Shami’s run-up was smooth, the loading too was fine, and the perfect seam position was still cutting the air like an electric saw. He bowled a perfect Test length. made the ball shape away from Rohit, missing the edge a few millimetres. Rohit made a face. In England, he would be coaxing Shami to bowl the same ball from the slips.
The bowler to let out the loudest roar post the injury break has been Siraj for Gujarat Titans. He got his best IPL figures this season – 4/17 against SRH. He had the usual spring in his step, bounce from the pitch, and that deadly bend on his in-cutter. Rohit too lost his stumps to one of them.
Bumrah’s searing pace, Shami’s banana swing, Siraj’s in-cutter – close your eyes and imagine Leeds or Lord’s, and the sound of rattling stumps and leather grazing wood would follow. Who wouldn’t be excited this pace battery in England and ignore the noise? Rohit, for one.