BCCI lets Jasprit Bumrah decide when to return to cricket: Reports

With regard to Jasprit Bumrah's health, Indian cricket is always on the alert as the pace spearhead has incurred multiple injuries of late. Six days after adding him to the squad, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a day before the first game that Bumrah had been ruled out of the Indian side for the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

He was scheduled to make his comeback during this series after being out with a back issue since September 2022. Bumrah sustained an injury following the England tour in July of last year and rushing back to play two T20 Internationals at home against Australia in September delayed his recovery as he was eventually ruled out of India’s T20 World Cup campaign.

As per a report by the Times of India, it is being said that the BCCI has chosen to be extremely cautious with Bumrah and has created an exception by allowing him to decide his comeback game. It's been reported that the administration has been in contact with Bumrah frequently and has assured him that he won't be hurried, like what had happened before the T20 World Cup 2022.

“It's his body and Bumrah is the best judge of it. He was named in the squad but it was never imposed on him that he must play this series. It has been left to him to decide if he is absolutely ready to go full throttle in an international game," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by TOI.

Bumrah has been asked to prepare himself to play at least three Tests against Australia: Source

India is scheduled to face Sri Lanka and New Zealand in bilateral series this month before starting with their preparations for the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia. The series, which commences in February, is of utmost importance for India as they aim to make it to the World Test Championship final. India are currently placed second, and at least three wins out of the four games will assure them a place in the summit clash.

“As things stand now, he has been told that the team needs him for the Test series at home against Australia next month. He has been asked to prepare himself to play at least three Tests against Australia, be available for the World Test Championship Final in June if India qualify, and then the ODI World Cup in India in Oct-Nov this year. A few ODI matches before the World Cup can also suffice,” the source added.

“Bumrah is an exception. He is too good a bowler and doesn't need much time to hit his stride. Opponents are always wary of him. He will be played only if he feels 100 percent about himself,” the source further stated.

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