'Cheteshwar Pujara has played 90 odd Tests'- Wasim Jaffer not pleased with Jasprit Bumrah's appointment as Indian captain

Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has said that it would have been more sensible to make Cheteshwar Pujara the stand-in captain of India for the rescheduled fifth and final Test match at Edgbaston starting Friday, July 1. Jaffer’s remarks came after pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was named the skipper at the very last moment as Rohit Sharma was ruled out due to COVID-19.

Justifying his opinion on why Pujara should have led India in this Test match, the multiple-time Ranji Trophy winner said that the former has the experience of leading in first-class cricket and is a ‘decent enough’ leader. At the same time, Jaffer also mentioned that the Saurashtra cricketer has already played 95 Test matches for India which according to him was enough for Pujara to get the role.

Cheteshwar Pujara is a decent enough leader: Wasim Jaffer

“I have seen Pujara lead in first-class cricket. He is a decent enough leader. He has played 90 (95) odd Tests, so I feel it would have made more sense to go with him,” Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo.

“Bumrah was vice-captain previously so obvious for him to become captain but knowing the importance of the match, knowing that the series is on the line, I would have been tempted to look at Cheteshwar Pujara. Bumrah hasn’t captained at all. For him to lead in such a Test without experience you never know. Bumrah looks intelligent, and has got great game sense so he might surprise us as Hardik Pandya did,” Jaffer added.

Bumrah was given the additional responsibility of leading the Indian team from the front with the unavailability of regular vice-captain KL Rahul, who underwent a successful surgery in Germany recently after he had suffered a groin injury earlier in June which also ruled him out of the home T20Is against South Africa.

Meanwhile, India are 2-1 up in the series and would now be hoping to win this one and register their first Test series victory on English soil after the 2007/08 season.