Jasprit Bumrah is on track to return to competitive cricket at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The 32-year-old bowler has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after suffering a knee injury, with the team management planning his return through short-format cricket.
Bumrah missed the recent two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which ended 1-0 in India's favour after the second Test was drawn. With important World Test Championship matches against New Zealand and Australia coming, India's medical team is taking a cautious approach to his workload and recovery.
Jasprit Bumrah Confirmed for Asian Games Comeback
According to a Times of India report, Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan remains uncertain. However, he could be available for the Asian Games in Japan if he completes his rehabilitation without any late setbacks.
"Bumrah is progressing well. In buildup to the 2027 World Cup, the plan was that he would focus on ODIs and Tests but since the knee injury, the management wants to ease him back with the shortest format first. He is being closely monitored and while the Afghanistan T20Is could be too close for comfort, the Asian Games seem highly likely, provided there are no late surprises," a source told Times of India.
Jasprit Bumrah's Absence Felt in Drawn Colombo Test
India missed Jasprit Bumrah's services during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. India enforced the follow-on after taking a 213-run first-innings lead, but Sri Lanka fought back on the final day to finish at 429/9 and secure a draw.
The result denied India a 2-0 series sweep. It was also the first time India failed to win a Test against Sri Lanka after enforcing the follow-on. Bumrah's absence underlined the value of having a proven strike bowler in difficult fourth-innings situations.
India's final two assignments in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle will be challenging. They will travel to New Zealand for a two-match Test series before hosting Australia for five Tests. The team management will want Bumrah fully fit before bringing him back to Test cricket.
Shreyas Iyer to Lead Full-Strength Asian Games Squad
The BCCI selected a strong 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Shreyas Iyer will captain the team, with Tilak Varma as his deputy. The squad also includes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar.
India will enter the men's cricket competition at the quarter-final stage. They will face the runner-up of Group A, which features Afghanistan and Nepal and hosts Japan. India won the gold medal in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games after the final against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain.
Bumrah will add experience to India's bowling attack. He has taken 121 wickets in 95 T20Is at an average of 18.08 and an economy rate of 6.51, including one four-wicket haul. He pacer recorded his best T20I figures of 4/15 against New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
Also read: Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya set for comeback in West Indies series
