Jasprit Bumrah And Hardik Pandya Are Valuable To Team India Than Mumbai Indians: Mahela Jayawardene

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is not far away from sporting the Indian jersey as his recovery from a back injury is going smoothly. The premium fast bowler recently bowled at the Indian team’s nets ahead of the second ODI in Visakhapatnam and is almost back to his complete fitness having recovered from a stress fracture.

On the contrary, Hardik Pandya is also making tremendous progress after recovering from back surgery. Pandya successfully underwent back surgery in London and is hitting the nets at the MCA facility in suburban Bandra-Kurla complex. Bumrah and Pandya are expected to take the field in the upcoming limited-overs home assignments against Sri Lanka and Australia.

Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are more important to Team India than Mumbai Indians: Mahela Jayawardene

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene expects that both the stalwarts would be back in action anytime soon. Injuries prevented them from participating in recent home assignments. Jayawardene stressed on the fact Bumrah and Hardik are “more valuable” for the Indian national cricket team than Mumbai Indians.

“Injuries happen and it is about how best they recover and these two (Hardik and Bumrah), I guess more than for Mumbai Indians, they are more valuable for Indian national team,” Jayawardene was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Former Sri Lanka great reckons that Bumrah and Pandya can start playing by January or by February. When asked about Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya’s progress, Jayawardene told reporters, “It’s good. He (Bumrah) has started training. He was in Vizag (Visakhapatnam) bowling to the guys (Indian players). MI staff is closely monitoring his progress.

Hardik (Pandya) is (also) making good progress (I’m) quite happy, hopefully, they will play the Sri Lankan series (early January) or maybe the Australian series (although) I am not sure how quickly they will be coming through. It (all) depends on the medical staff, but as long as they are playing in January- February, it’s fine,” Jayawardene said at a promotional event in Mumbai.

Read More: Sourav Ganguly To Have A Look Into Jasprit Bumrah’s Fitness Test Saga