With so much uncertainty around Rohit Sharma continuing as Test captain, Bumrah is seen as the frontrunner to lead the side if the selectors don’t go for a younger captain, given the pacer’s fitness concerns
NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah’s return to competitive cricket may take a while longer. TOI has learnt that the ace fast bowler may miss the first week or two of the IPL and likely to join the Mumbai Indians camp only in April.
Bumrah is undergoing rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru after sitting out of the ongoing Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury.
“Bumrah’s medical reports are okay. He has resumed bowling at the CoE. However, it is unlikely he’ll be able to bowl at the start of the IPL in another fortnight. As per current status, the first week of April looks a more realistic date for him to get back to high-intensity cricket,” a BCCI source said.
In that scenario, Bumrah is likely to miss the first three or four matches for MI. Bumrah, it is learnt, still hasn’t started bowling full tilt. “It’s standard operating procedure. The medical team will gradually build up his workload and intensity. Unless he is able to bowl full tilt without any discomfort for some days, the medical team is unlikely to clear him,” the source said.
Incidentally, Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mayank Yadav, too, is expected to join the IPL in April.
Will pacer be fit for England Tests?
What needs to be factored in is that India have a tough five-Test tour of England immediately after the IPL. The eventual target is to have Bumrah fit for as many Tests in England as possible. With so much uncertainty around Rohit Sharma continuing as Test captain, Bumrah is seen as the frontrunner to lead the side if the selectors don’t go for a younger captain, given the pacer’s fitness concerns.
It is learnt that with Bumrah and Mohammed Shami prone to injuries, the selectors don’t want to plan the entire tour of England around these two seamers. “How Shami and Bumrah endure the long IPL will be important. Shami is under constant watch. If the selectors get both of them together for two-three Tests, it will be the ideal situation. The team management will also be cautious of pushing the duo to pay all Tests together. Nobody wants either of them breaking down in the middle of a Test, like it happened with Bumrah in Sydney. Too much depended on Bumrah alone in Australia,” sources said.
Mohammed Siraj is almost certain to retain his Test place while Harshit Rana and Akash Deep will have to prove their worth. Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh will also be in the race. The India ‘A’ tour before the England Tests will be key.
