'Fully fit' Jasprit Bumrah to return in IND vs IRE T20s ahead of Asia Cup & WC

Fans will breathe a sigh of relief as Jasprit Bumrah is now fully fit. The premium pacer who underwent back surgery earlier this year has been out of action for a year. With Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023 in the next three months, India Cricket Team is desperate to have Bumrah back. He is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and is bowling 8-10 overs daily at full tilt. If all goes well, he will be in the IND vs IRE T20s to get back to competitive cricket.

As per an Indian Express report, Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will take a call on his inclusion in India vs Ireland in the next few days.

Some good news💙 Bumrah getting ready. 🥹🥹 This is so pleasing. #WIvIND #TeamIndia #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Hjv0GLS71E
— Abhi Panchal (@iamabhi1909) July 10, 2023

Jasprit Bumrah has been out of action since July 2022. What seemed to be a recurrence of his back injury turned out to be a stress fracture. As the NCA hurried his return ahead of T20 World Cup 2022, it turned out to be a big mistake. Bumrah missed T20 WC and WTC Final both. India exited from the semifinals of T20 WC and lost to Australia in the WTC Final.

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Jasprit Bumrah Injury Timeline

July 2022: Bumrah reported a back problem after the 2nd ODI against England in July 2022 and missed the 3rd ODI. Upon further consultation, it turned out to be a re-emergence of the back injury that he suffered in 2019.
August 2022: Missed the ODI series in West Indies. Returned to the NCA after his back issue flared up.
August 2022: Bumrah missed the Asia Cup as he failed to recover in time.
September 2022: After a two-and-half-month recovery, Bumrah rushed to return to the South Africa series ahead of the T20 WC.
September 2022: After bowling just 6 overs in two T20s, the move backfired as Bumrah aggravated the injury.
October 2022: Bumrah was ruled out of T20 World Cup entirely.
November 2022: The pacer missed the New Zealand tour.
December 2022: He also missed the Bangladesh tour.
January 2023: Although he was set to return in Sri Lanka ODI series, he complained of a stiff back at the NCA.
February 2023: Jasprit Bumrah missed the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
March 2023: Misses IPL 2023 and goes for back surgery in New Zealand instead.
June 2023: Continues with rehab post-surgery and misses the WTC Final 2023.
July 2023: Begins bowling at full tilt at the NCA and set to return for IND vs IRE T20s.

But Bumrah is now finally at his 100%. At the national camp in Bengaluru, Jasprit Bumrah is bowling regularly without any discomfort. All players will have a few practice games in the next few days. It will also be a fitness test for many injured players. Bumrah will play in those games.

“For an injury of this nature, it is not wise to set any timeline as constant monitoring is necessary. But Bumrah is recovering well and he has bowled seven overs at NCA nets. It is a steady increase in his workload from the light workouts and bowling sessions of the initial period. He will play a few practice matches (at NCA) next month, and there will be a close assessment of his fitness then,” a source tracking the development told PTI earlier this month.