However, deep down the Zimbabwe skipper does not only have a tired soul, but a tormented and bruised heart.
And no one can blame him for he is the skipper who has become a caricature of his former self since being named the captain for the Zimbabwe side.
Chigumbura, a middle order batsman as well as seam bowler, who made his first-class debut at 15, had a terrible World Cup, which left his image not only battered but left fans wondering if he is the right person to lead the nation.
The Zimbabwe skipper failed to lead from the front at the World Cup where he scored a total of 96 runs in his six innings.
Though Zimbabwe is not a great cricketing nation, news that the country will be returning to the Test arena with the impending tours of Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand have put Chigumbura under the microscope again.
Not only is Chigumbura fighting his own loss of form, but he is going to lead into battle a bunch of average inexperienced and “overpaid” cricketers.
Questions have been asked whether the captaincy is not a job too many for him as it seemed to be on his predecessor Prosper Utseya whose form took a nosedive once he took over from Tatenda Taibu.
Having failed to lead the nation at the World Cup, Chigumbura surprisingly still feels he is the best to lead Zimbabwe on their return to the Test arena since September 2005 when the nation voluntarily withdrew from the longer version of the game.
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Chigumbura remains steadfast and true to the “Handiende” syndrome gripping Zimbabwean politics and still thinks he is the best candidate for the job. “We have waited for a long time and it is time that we start playing the longer version of the game. Most of the players have now matured. This is our fifth year since the withdrawal of the team from playing Test cricket.
“Losing form and captaining the team are two different things. Once I pick up my form everything will be fine and I have told myself that I will bounce back to be the player that the nation expects me to be,” he reckons.
He is however quick to call for protection on his sides with the introduction of experienced players.
“There is something that you cannot rule out in every sport and that is experience. Players such as Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha should be in the team regardless of their form.
“At the World Cup in the sub continent we missed their experience and if they can bounce back into the team they have something to bring to the team,” he said.
Chigumbura reckons that the “rich pickings” they are getting from the sport are not in any way affecting the players.
“In every job you have to work for your salary. If you do not perform, you will lose your position in the team. Sport is not as long-term a profession as others so you have to maximise on what you are doing,” he said.
The 2010 CBZ Cricketer of the Year also lamented Zimbabwe’s preparations going into the ICC World Cup that was won by India.
“Maybe our preparations affected us as we only assembled a week before the tournament and that was in Dubai. I still feel that our preparations had something to do with our performance,” he said.
Chigumbura has played six Tests since making his debut as an 18-year-old, but struggled with the bat making five ducks having scored 187 runs, averaging 15.58 runs and taking nine wickets.
Nearly a year ago, Chigumbura took over the team’s captaincy from Prosper Utseya and led the country into the 2011 World Cup.
He has been tasked with leading the nation back to the Test arena when Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand tour Zimbabwe from June.
As the clock ticks, the nation waits to see if the skipper will lead from the front.
