The five-time IPL champions have endured a difficult season, winning just three matches so far, with Hardik’s leadership coming under intense scrutiny throughout the tournament.
Speaking to Sportstar, Manjrekar praised Bumrah’s exceptional cricketing intelligence and backed him as a strong leadership candidate for both Mumbai Indians and the Indian national team.
“I’d like to see Bumrah captain India because I don’t think anyone reads the game better than he does. What makes him special isn’t just his bowling action, but his ability to anticipate, read batters, understand match situations and assess pitch conditions. I’m slightly disappointed he hasn’t shown interest in captaincy opportunities so far, but at least in the IPL, he should get that shot,” Manjrekar said.
The former batter also pointed to Mumbai’s decision-making when they brought Hardik Pandya back from Gujarat Titans, suggesting the franchise should have attempted to bring in coach Ashish Nehra as well. Hardik and Nehra had previously formed a highly successful partnership at Gujarat Titans, guiding the team to an IPL title.
Manjrekar believes that captaincy at the IPL level would place far less physical and mental burden on Bumrah compared to leading India in Test cricket, making it an ideal opportunity for him to step into a leadership role.
He also highlighted that Suryakumar Yadav has already stepped in to lead Mumbai Indians in Hardik Pandya’s absence this season, but maintained that Bumrah’s tactical awareness makes him the ideal long-term choice.
With Mumbai Indians set to miss out on the playoffs after a forgettable campaign, discussions around the franchise’s leadership future are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
