Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, who has been out of international cricket for the better part of one year, has reportedly bowled seven overs in the nets at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. It has been revealed that the 29-year-old is going to play in a few practice matches at the NCA next month to prove his fitness as the ODI World Cup draws nearer.
The Ahmedabad-born cricketer had surgery in March of this year in New Zealand, to sort out his recurring back. In the last 10 months or so, this injury has cost Jasprit Bumrah the opportunity to represent India at the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia and the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023, among other cricket matches.
On June 27, Tuesday, the schedule for the ODI World Cup 2023, to be played in India, was released in Mumbai at an ICC event. The Indian fans would be optimistic about the team’s chances in the quadrennial spectacle as Bumrah shows signs of regaining fitness in time at the NCA.
The source close to the development was quoted as saying to PTI, “For an injury of this nature, it is not wise to set any timeline as constant monitoring is necessary. But it can be said that Bumrah is recovering well and he has bowled seven overs at NCA nets. It is a steady increase in his workload from the light workouts and bowling sessions of the initial period.”
“He (Bumrah) will play a few practice matches (at NCA) next month, and there will be a close assessment of his fitness then,” the source further added.
Meanwhile, the former strength and conditioning coach of Team India, Ramji Srinivasan also talked about the fitness status of the 29-year-old fast bowler to PTI. He said, “He (Bumrah) should not be hurried. Playing practice matches at the NCA is a good step as it will help tune his body to the demands of a match. But he should be made to play in some actual (domestic) matches before bringing him to top-level cricket.”
Srinivasan mentioned that the workload for a fast bowler in international cricket is immense and Jasprit Bumrah should play for India only when he is ready to bowl full tilt.
“The demands of international cricket are different and the body should be absolutely ready to take that amount of workload. Recovering from stress fracture is a delicate exercise and Bumrah should be allowed maximum recovery time,” the former Indian support staff opined.
