‘We hope he plays before the World Cup’ – Rohit Sharma optimistic about Jasprit Bumrah’s international return

Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: BCCI)

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been out of action for some time because of his back injury and team India have paid some heavy prices because of his absence in major ICC tournaments.  And now after spending ample time in the NCA for his recovery, Bumrah is looking all set to make a comeback in International cricket with India’s series against Ireland.

Bumrah’s presence at this juncture is going to be very important for India, especially with the imminent ODI World Cup on the horizon. His participation in the series against Ireland is deemed instrumental in India’s preparation and their prospects for triumph in this prestigious tournament. The World Cup journey for India is going to start on October 8 in Chennai, where they will be facing Australia in the opening match.

During a press conference before the first ODI against West Indies, Indian captain Rohit Sharma gave an update on Bumrah’s recovery and said:

“The amount of experience he (Bumrah) brings is very important. Right now he’s coming from a serious injury and I’ve no idea if he’ll travel to Ireland because the team hasn’t been announced yet.”

“If he gets to play then it’s good and we hope he plays before the World Cup. When a player returns from a serious injury, match fitness, match feeling are some key components, which are missing. We’ll see what has been planned and everything depends on his recovery. We are in constant touch with the NCA and things look positive at the moment.”

As per the medical update shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on July 21, Bumrah is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. The BCCI confirms that Bumrah is now in the final stages of his rehabilitation and is honing his bowling prowess during net sessions.

To further measure his fitness, the NCA has scheduled practice games, and the BCCI Medical Team will thoroughly evaluate his performance subsequent to these matches, before reaching the ultimate verdict concerning his reintroduction to the international cricketing arena.