Last Update: January 10, 2023, 07:58 AM IST
Jasprit Bumrah continues to struggle with fitness issues. (AP Photo)
Jasprit Bumrah was withdrawn from India’s ODI squad a day before the series opener in Guwahati
India legend Jasprit Bumrah is racing against time to be fit for next month’s Australia Test series, according to a report. On Monday, Bumrah was ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, with skipper Rohit Sharma revealing that the bowler had complained of back stiffness during net practice.
Now, according to a report in ESPNcricinfoBumrah has been advised rest for at least three more weeks before he can resume bowling, which means he will miss at least two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting February 9 in Nagpur.
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The 28-year-old last played a competitive match in September 2022 after which he underwent rehabilitation at the national level. Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He started training in late November last year and then bowled till mid-December.
The report added that before being declared fit, Bumrah underwent a match-simulation test at the NCA. After further bowling tests under the supervision of Nitin Patel, head of the Sports Science Wing of the NCA, in addition to the scan results, it was decided that the bowler would have to defer his return to competitive cricket.
“Bumrah, who was set to join the team in Guwahati ahead of the ODI series, will need some more time to build up his bowling flexibility. The BCCI said in a statement on Monday, this decision has been taken as a precaution.
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During a media interaction ahead of the series, skipper Rohit termed Bumrah’s absence as “unfortunate” but allayed apprehensions about the star pacer’s fitness, saying it was not a big deal.
“It is an unfortunate incident with him (Bumrah). Poor guy was working very hard at NCA all this time. When he was fully fit, he started bowling and everything, I think there was this incident in the last two days where he felt a bit of stiffness in his back. It’s not a big deal, it’s just stiffness. (But) when Bumrah says anything, we have to be very careful about it. I thought it was important for us to take the decision to take him out,” Rohit said.
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