Jasprit Bumrah skips Ranji game after BCCI President’s intervention

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been out of cricketing action since September owing to a lower back injury. He was last seen plying his trade for India during the Test series in West Indies. In the second match in Jamaica, he stole the spotlight after he became only the third Indian to bag a Test hat-trick after the likes of veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and pacer Irfan Pathan.

The world-class bowler was seen swinging his arms at the nets session ahead of India’s second ODI match against West Indies in Visakhapatnam last week where he bowled a handful of overs to the Indian batsmen. He was also named in the India squad for the upcoming home assignments where India will play three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka and three-match ODI series against Australia next month.

Jasprit Bumrah skips Ranji Trophy game after Sourav Ganguly intervention

However, after recovering from injury, he was expected to turn up for his first competitive game to prove his fitness during the Ranji Trophy fixture between Gujarat and Kerala. But, the Gujarat pacer did not take part in the Elite Group A game at Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat on Thursday.

According to TOI, Bumrah was a bit worried about his hectic comeback process and instead, he had hoped for a safe and smooth return to the game. The 26-year-old pacer also raised the same concerns with BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and BCCI secretary Jay Shah.

After rounds of discussion, Sourav Ganguly and Jay Shah suggested Bumrah to primarily focus on white-ball cricket at the moment. They let him take an extended break from the game and which is why he didn’t play the Ranji game. It has been learned that Jasprit Bumrah will directly turn up for the Sri Lanka series in early January, with the first T20I match scheduled to be played at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.

On the other hand, it was also reported that Gujarat management did not approve the national selection panel’s request to let Bumrah bowl only 4-8 overs a day, adding that it would not be reasonable to allow the bowler in such a concession.

Watch: Dale Steyn’s cheeky run-out attempt against AB de Villiers