MSK Prasad Delivers Update On Jasprit Bumrah's Return

India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has not played any competitive game since the end of the West Indies tour. The right-arm pacer had starred in the series, picking up five-wicket hauls in both the Tests including a hat-trick as India won the series by 2-0. He was then named in the squad for the three-match series against South Africa.

The series would have been his first Test assignment at home. However, a stress fracture in back ruled Jasprit Bumrah out of the series and he is still on the sidelines. After the series against South Africa, he also missed the assignment against Bangladesh. Last month, he had visited the UK with the National Cricket Academy’s chief physiotherapist Ashish Kaushik and consulted specialists to treat the back problem.

Meanwhile, India have not missed Jasprit Bumrah much in their home series as the likes of Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami have done exceedingly well in Tests. India have won all of their five home Tests this season and are currently gearing up for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against West Indies next month.

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Update on Jasprit Bumrah:

Chief of India’s selection panel MSK Prasad has delivered an update on Jasprit Bumrah, confirming that the pacer is unlikely to return to action before next month. The earliest Bumrah can return is during the tour of New Zealand which starts on January 24 with a five-match T20I series. India are unlikely to play Bumrah in all the T20Is in order to keep him fresh for the tough Test assignment.

“He (Bumrah) is gradually getting back to full fitness, though we need to hear from the people working on his recovery. His return cannot be before next month as we are still waiting for a report on him. But of course, he is expected to be back for the New Zealand series,” Prasad had said during the pink ball Test in Kolkata.

So, Bumrah would not only miss the upcoming series against West Indies but also the one against Sri Lanka and Australia. Before travelling to New Zealand, India will play three T20Is – against Sri Lanka – and three ODIs – against Australia – in January.