In the next two Tests of the upcoming four-match series against world-number one Australia, India captain Rohit Sharma is hoping that pace ace Jasprit Bumrah would be able to lead the attack. The 29-year-old Burmah, who hasn’t played in an international match since September of last year due to a back ailment, isn’t included in the India squad for the first two Test matches, but recently returned to bowl at the National Cricket Academy, giving fans optimism for a quick comeback.
“About Bumrah, I am not too sure at the moment. The first two Test matches, of course, he is not going to be available. I am expecting…I am hoping, not expecting, that he plays the next (last) two Test matches (against Australia). We don’t want to take any risks with him as back injuries are always critical. We have a lot of cricket coming back after that as well,” Rohit said on Tuesday.
“We are in constant touch with physios and doctors in NCA. We will monitor. The medical team will give him as much time as he wants,” he added. Having led India to a 3-0 ODI series victory over visiting New Zealand, the India skipper was speaking at the post-game news conference. After the England tour, Bumrah suffered a lower back stress fracture, which caused him to miss the Asia Cup the previous year. The three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka was supposed to be his comeback, however after being chosen to the squad, the pacer was dropped.
On February 9, Nagpur will host the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Series, which is also a part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2022–23. The final two Tests will take place over the first two weeks of March. Bumrah was hurried into the T20 side during a home series against Australia last October–November to improve the team’s chances at the T20 World Cup, when he again broke down and was sidelined indefinitely.