The legendary Sunil Gavaskar is in awe of Jasprit Bumrah's leadership qualities and reckons the peerless fast bowler will succeed Rohit Sharma as the next captain of the Indian team following his extraordinary display in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bumrah recently produced one of the best-ever bowling performances by an overseas pacer in Australia and picked 32 wickets over five Tests.
He captained India during their only win in the series as he helped the visitors to a comprehensive victory over the Optus Stadium in Perth in the first match.
"He can be the next man. I believe he will be the next man. For the simple reason that he leads from the front, he's got a very good air about him, an air of a leader but not someone who's going to press on you," Gavaskar aired his views on Channel 7.
The batting great added, "Sometimes, you have captains who put a lot of pressure on you. With Bumrah you can see that, he expects the others to do what their job is, why they are in the national team, but it doesn't seem to pressurise anybody."
He has been leading the Indian pace attack for a while now. He has guided fast bowlers like Mohammed Siraj in cricket, giving him the confidence and growing as a fast bowler.
"With the fast bowlers, he has been absolutely brilliant, standing at mid-off, mid-on and every time just being at hand to tell them. I think he was absolutely brilliant and I won't be surprised if he takes over very soon."
Bumrah took his wickets at an incredible average of 13.06 and an even better strike rate of 28.37 before pulling up injured midway through Australia's first innings at the SCG in the final Test.
In Bumrah's absence, the home team chased down 162 on the third day to win the series 3-1.
He was given the captaincy for the last Test when the out-of-form Rohit Sharma "opted out" but a back spasm prevented Bumrah from bowling on the decisive third day of the Perth Test.
Bumrah destroyed Australia in Perth with eight wickets, grabbed six wickets in the first innings at the Gabba, and nearly turned the Boxing Day Test on its head with his exploits on the fourth afternoon at MCG.
In the decider at SCG, Bumrah got rid of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne early into Australia's first innings but bowled only an over after lunch on the second day when the game was very much in balance.
The Indian pacer has been named Player of the Series for his memorable performance.
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