Jasprit Bumrah likely to be ruled out of T20 World Cup.
Jasprit Bumrah missed the opening T20 match against South Africa on Wednesday and, the following day, flew to Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy to have his back problem assessed.
With only a few weeks till the T20 World Cup in Australia, Team India experienced a severe setback when star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to a back injury.
Bumrah missed the opening T20 match against South Africa on Wednesday and, the following day, flew to Bengaluru’s National Cricket Academy to have his back problem assessed.
“His injury isn’t looking good right now, so it appears he won’t be going to Australia with the Indian team, according to what we’ve been told. A complete report from the medical team would be submitted shortly,” a BCCI official told the sources.
Although Bumrah missed the Asia Cup in the UAE last month due to a back ailment, it is yet unknown if he will have surgery.
He was cleared to play in this month’s domestic three-T20 series against Australia and participated in the second and third T20s in Nagpur and Hyderabad. His bowling statistics in Nagpur were 1/23 in 2 overs and in Hyderabad they were 0/50 in 4 overs.
Indian end-of-game bowling in T20s has recently come under fire. Bumrah was anticipated to be the team’s leader during the World Cup, which will take place from October 16 to November 13.
However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, and Arshdeep Singh have all leaked runs. On October 23 at the MCG, India will play its inaugural game against Pakistan.
Bumrah has eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.08 and an average of 22.75 in the six T20 internationals he has played in Australia. In January 2016, he made his T20 debut in Australia.
Bumrah has been disqualified by the BCCI from the opening Twenty20 match against South Africa on Wednesday in Thiruvananthapuram.
“Jasprit Bumrah expressed back soreness on Tuesday during India’s practice session. He was evaluated by the BCCI Medical Team,” it had stated.
The selection committee will have to choose between Mohammad Shami or Deepak Chahar, who have been added as standby players for the T20 World Cup, if Bumrah is fully ruled out of the competition.
Shami and Chahar, who both excel in the Powerplay, aren’t well renowned for their bowling in the later innings.
Due to Covid, Shami was unable to play in the series against Australia and South Africa. Since India’s World Cup match against Afghanistan last year, he hasn’t played in a T20I for India. However, he had taken 20 wickets in the IPL 2022, the highest for the champion Gujarat Titans.
Before the commencement of the T20 series against Australia earlier this month, team captain Rohit Sharma emphasised the value of Bumrah to the group.
“Bumrah is a crucial participant. He has excelled in his performance over the past few years. He is an attacking bowler, and the squad suffers if such a bowler isn’t on the team,” Rohit had previously stated.
As Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be ruled out of the T20 World Cup, he was only named one of the top five players for the World Cup by former Australian great Mark Waugh, the legendary Ricky Ponting, and former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.
