Last Update: February 22, 2023, 12:43 IST
Jasprit Bumrah has not played competitive cricket since September last year. (AFP photo)
Jasprit Bumrah has been battling fitness concerns since August last year and may not see action till the start of IPL 2023
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah continues his recovery from fitness concerns that forced him out of the Asia Cup and T20s. World Cup last year and the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home. Although last month, he was named in India’s ODI squad for a home series against Sri Lanka, but withdrew due to tightness in his right glute.
There were speculations that Bumrah might return to the team India team for the last two Tests of the Australia series but this has not happened. In fact, he is not even a part of the ODI series that will immediately follow the start of the Tests.
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It is clear that Bumrah is not fully fit and the BCCI did not want to rush his comeback after a failed attempt in September last year when he played a few T20Is against Australia before going back to the Nationals. Cricket Academy after complaining of back pain.
The next big cricket tournament is the IPL which begins on March 31 and it will be interesting whether Bumrah makes his competitive return through the T20 league where he represents Mumbai Indians.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra, however, feels that if the 29-year-old is still not 100 per cent fit, then there is no need for him to be a part of the IPL as representing India should be the priority.
“You are an Indian player first and then you play for your franchise. So, if Bumrah feels any discomfort, BCCI will come forward and tell the franchises that we are not going to release him. The world won’t end if he doesn’t play seven matches with Jofra Archer.” sportskeeda,
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“Also, when you are fit, you want to keep playing because it makes you better. So I definitely feel that if BCCI intervenes MI will look into it because he is a national treasure and things are not as difficult to manage as they seem at the moment.”
However, ahead of the IPL, Bumrah can get into some rhythm by taking part in the Irani Cup, in which last year’s Ranji champions Madhya Pradesh will face Rest of India from March 3.
And should India then qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final, Bumrah could get back into red-ball mode by featuring in county cricket as well.
“If he (Bumrah) is fit, he will go and play those games. But IPL is still a month away and we don’t even know whether he will play all the games or not. WTC final is three months away. So it is too early to say anything,” Chopra said.
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