Inspired by Cummin's Elevation?

Bumrah as ODI deputy is selectors’ way of ‘avoiding clutter’

It was a decision that not many saw coming but once it did, Jasprit Bumrah’s elevation as India’s ODI vice-captain, albeit as a stop-gap arrangement, seemed a perfectly justified reward for his terrific all-format consistency.

It won’t be surprising if the Chetan Sharma-led selection panel felt inspired by Pat Cummins’ recent elevation as Australia’s captain while making this choice, a very interesting one considering that two proven IPL captains -- Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant -- were in the mix to become KL Rahul’s deputy for the bilateral series against South Africa.

If sources close to the selection committee are to be believed, Bumrah being elevated as vice-captain is a message to both Pant and Iyer to show supreme allformat consistency, something that the Gujarat fast bowler has mastered ever since he burst into the international scene back in 2016. (Agencies)