Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is currently out of action due to stress fracture in the back and it is unlikely that he will be playing his comeback fixture in India early in 2020. As per India chIef selector MSK Prasad, Bumrah might only be available from the New Zealand tour which starts on January 24 with a five-match T20I series.
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Bumrah has been out of action since September due to a stress fracture in the back. He was set to play his first home Test against South Africa in October but the issue was detected just a few days before the start of the series, which ruled him out of action.
“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.
Bumrah had travelled to the UK to consult the expert and did not require surgery. He hasn’t started bowling yet and might only be allowed to bowl in January. Since the Indian team is scheduled to play 10 international fixtures on the tour of New Zealand, it is unlikely that Bumrah will play all the limited-overs matches.
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The team management will surely manage his workload in the series but he will be a confirmed selection in the playing XI in Tests.
In his absence, the Ishant Sharma-led pace attack has done wonders in the longest format but given Bumrah’s credentials, one of Ishant, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami will have to vacate his spot.
In the limited-overs format, the comeback of Bhuvneshwar Kumar has come as a relief for the team but India are yet to ink on the pacers in the ODIs. In T20Is, Deepak Chahar has done his job well. He is also a part of West Indies ODIs and will hope to keep his place going ahead.
Prior to the New Zealand tour, India play three T20Is – against Sri Lanka – and three ODIs – against Australia – in January.