Watch: Not Rohit Sharma! Virat Kohli invites Jasprit Bumrah to lead India after SCG loss
Published - 05 Jan 2025, 09:47 AM | Updated - 05 Jan 2025, 11:34 PM
Star batter Virat Kohli invited skipper Jasprit Bumrah to lead India after the six-wicket loss against Australia in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl in Australia's second innings during the match after suffering back spasms while bowling on Day 2.
India suffered a heartbreaking six-wicket loss in Sydney on Sunday, January 5. Australia chased down the 162-run target with six wickets in hand. The Pat Cummins-led side clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a margin of 3-1. Australia qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final after the win.
Watch: Not Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Invites Jasprit Bumrah to Lead India After SCG Loss
After India's loss at the SCG, Virat Kohli invited Jasprit Bumrah to lead the team, not Rohit Sharma. Bumrah was seen joining his teammates on the field after the defeat, which caught the attention of social media users.
Have a look at the incident right here:
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) January 5, 2025
Jasprit Bumrah Has a Back Spasm - Prasidh Krishna
The Indian bowling spearhead bowled just one over in Australia's first innings after the Lunch Break on Day 2 of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Bumrah left the venue in his training kit, accompanied by the support staff, to undergo scans on his back to evaluate the extent of the injury.
During a press conference after the end of the second day's play, Prasidh Krishna confirmed that Bumrah was dealing with back spasms. Bumrah was fit enough to bat, but the team decided against risking his bowling in Australia's second innings, as they didn't want to aggravate the injury further.
Don't Know Whether That Was a Rehearsed Answer - Former India Cricketer
Reacting to Prasidh Krishna's statement about Bumrah's injury, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed some skepticism. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar questioned whether the back spasm explanation was entirely accurate. Manjrekar hoped that the injury was indeed as minor as claimed.
"If it was anything more than a back spasm, I think the whole country would have been in a spasm. So, it's good to know, but I don't know whether that was a rehearsed answer that was given because I am sure the team management knew that question would be asked. You wonder if it was a back spasm why would one go all the way out of the ground to have a scan. Let's hope it is what they say it is," Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
Jasprit Bumrah has been the standout bowler in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He picked up 32 wickets from 151.2 overs across five Tests, with an impressive average of 13.06. The pacer took three five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls.
On Day 2 in Sydney, Bumrah surpassed Bishan Singh Bedi's record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in a Test series in Australia, with his 32nd wicket coming when he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne. Bedi had previously held the record with 31 wickets during the 1977-78 series.
Also read: Is Jasprit Bumrah's Sydney Test injury very serious? Report reveals truth
