Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has failed to recover from a back injury that has ruled him out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is unlikely to make a comeback for the next six months. A source in the Cricket Board of India (BCCI) gave this information to PTI on Tuesday. It is not known whether the fast bowler, who missed the last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, will have to undergo a back operation. Bumrah was initially selected in the T20 World Cup squad.
A BCCI source said, “Bumrah is out of the IPL as he will not be able to make a comeback for the next six months. Even he may not be able to return till then. The target is the ODI World Cup but he is not even guaranteed to play in that tournament.” This means that if India make it to the final of the World Test Championship, Bumrah will not be able to play in that either. The final of the World Test Championship will begin at The Oval from June 7.
The IPL begins on March 31 and Bumrah is the main pacer of Mumbai Indians. The ODI World Cup is to be played in India in October-November. The 29-year-old Bumrah played five Tests, five ODIs and as many T20 Internationals in 2022, apart from IPL matches for Mumbai Indians. Bumrah’s action puts a lot of pressure on his back. Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding believes that Bumrah can always be troubled by back pain.
