Star Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is all set to go into rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. According to a report in Times of India on Sunday, Bumrah is expected to start on physical activity such as gym work, running, and light bowling in the next 24 to 48 hours. The 31-year-old pacer has been sidelined since January 3, 2023, due to a back injury, for which he recently underwent scans under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. The reports were discussed internally, and he could feasibly start some physical work (in the form of gym work or light bowling) within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The BCCI is expected to play a waiting game with Bumrah before finally making a call on his selection to ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starting from February 19. All teams can slot in any changes to their provisional squads for the eight-team ICC event until February 11.
“Even if there is a 1% possibility, the BCCI is sure to stretch their waiting game. During the time when the BCCI was deciding about the replacement of Hardik Pandya, two weeks had passed before they got Prasidh Krishna. Even in the case of dengue with Shubman Gill, there were no thoughts of searching for a replacement. These events occurred during the campaign, but with Bumrah, the somewhat similar approach could take place here. This is just the deadline to submit the squad and they could come back to the Event Technical Committee later for seeking a replacement if he still doesn’t return to full fitness ,” a source close to developments quoted to TOI.
Bumrah played all five Test matches for India in Australia and accounted for the dismissal of 32 batters. He didn’t come out to bowl in the second innings of the fifth Test in Sydney due to a back spasm, and upon returning to India, he was asked to offload for five weeks.
Bumrah last played a 50-over match for India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023, and picked up two wickets. His last white-ball match for Men in Blue was in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa at Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29, 2024.
