Jasprit Bumrah’s return to competitive cricket was delayed as the BCCI remained cautious about his recovery, fearing a potential stress fracture in his back.
Jasprit Bumrah will have to wait longer before making his return to competitive cricket, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains cautious about his recovery. The fast bowler, who suffered a lower back injury during the Sydney Test in January this year, is reportedly at risk of developing a stress fracture.
Bumrah recently started bowling at the BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, but he has not yet reached full intensity. Initially expected to join Mumbai Indians by April 1 for IPL 2025, there is now no confirmed timeline for his return.
“Bumrah’s injury is a bit more serious. The medical team wants to ensure he doesn’t suffer a stress fracture. Bumrah himself is being careful,” The Times of India quoted a BCCI source as saying.
Although the pacer is clinically fit, the board is taking a cautious approach by increasing his workload gradually. This means Mumbai Indians, the five-time IPL champions, will have to wait longer for their star bowler’s availability. The franchise had a rough start to the season, losing their first two games before bouncing back with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders.
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Bumrah is not the only pacer whose return has been delayed. Right-arm fast bowler Akash Deep, who is also recovering from a back injury, is expected to return around April 10.
“He (Bumrah) is bowling at the CoE, but it could take longer to get back in full swing. No definite timeline has been set yet, but one hopes he gets back by mid-April. Akash Deep too hopes to get back by April 10,” the source said.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has warned that Bumrah is on the verge of suffering a fracture due to excessive bowling in a short period.
“He (Bumrah) had the surgery (in 2023), but he played all that (Australia) Test series, performed unbelievably. At the end of the day, he just bowled too much over a one-month period. And it hasn’t cracked, he hasn’t got a fracture, he is on the borderline of a fracture,” Bond told ESPNCricinfo.
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