Ready to captain if given chance: Jasprit Bumrah

Paarl (South Africa): India ODI vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah on Monday said he is ready to captain the 50-over format if given an opportunity.

"If given an opportunity it would be an honour, I don’t think any player would say no," Bumrah said during a virtual press conference.

On Virat Kohli quitting Test captaincy, he said it is his decision and one should respect it.

"Virat knows his body. He knows his frame of mind. We respect that. It’s been a pleasure to play under his captaincy. I made my debut under him," he said.

Though he has quit captaincy, he will still be an asset to the team, Bumrah said.

"He brought in energy. He brought in the fitness culture. He was driven. Everybody moved in one direction under his leadership. He has been immense and he will still be immense with his inputs," he said.

"The players understand the change and accordingly try to make positive contributions to that out of the sheer experience they have," Bumrah said.

Virat on Saturday had stepped down from Test match captaincy.

"Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it’s now. There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey but there has never been lack of effort or lack of belief," he said in a Twitter post.

He had asked his teammates and the support staff to keep the news to themselves.

Virat, who was appointed Test captain in 2014, replacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has been a very successful captain. He won 40 matches out of 68. (UNI)