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Jasprit Bumrah suffered from back spasms during the fifth and final Test between India and Australia in Syndey last week.
Jasprit Bumrah played in all five Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. (AFP Photo)
Jasprit Bumrah should be fit for the Champions Trophy if he indeed only suffered from back spasms during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last week. However, the Indian team management has been warned to handle the pace spearhead with utmost care and not risk him for the marquee tournament if there’s even a slightest of doubt that he might aggravate his injury.
Bumrah didn’t bowl in the second innings of the Sydney Test due to back spasms and Australia went on to beat India by six wickets to win the series 3-1.
The 31-year-old will reportedly be assessed by the BCCI medical team to ascertain the severity of injury and subsequently a call on his inclusion for the Champions Trophy will be taken.
“Bumrah is a treasure and he should be handled with care. A CT is not the end of the world. If there is the slightest doubt, he shouldn’t be in the squad. Five back-to-back Test matches isn’t something he has ever played in his cricketing career,” former India trainer Ramji Srinivasan told The Times of India.
Ramji though feels that Bumrah would be fit for the tournament if his latest injury setback is just limited to spasms.
“I agree that if it is only spasms, he should be fit. In fact, he might be feeling alright even before he boarded the flight back home. But I am not so sure about it. The injury is related to stress, which is a direct result of playing too much cricket. If it is anything between a Grade 1 to Grade 3 injury related to stress fracture, it can take up to one to six months of recovery,” he said.
India start their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 which means Bumrah has around six weeks to regain full fitness. As per reports, all teams have to send their provisional squads for the tournament to ICC by January 12.
India will also host England for eight white-ball matches – five T20Is and three ODIs – in the lead up to the Champions Trophy.
