In what could be a massive blow to Team India’s campaign in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, premier speedster Jasprit Bumrah is set to be ruled out of the multi-team event due to a back stress fracture.
Though an official confirmation from the Board of Control from Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to come, the situation looks negative as Bumrah pulled out of India’s first T20I against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Not to mention, the apex Indian board had informed about Bumrah’s injury just minutes before the toss took place at the Greenfield Stadium.
“Jasprit Bumrah complained of back pain in during India’s practice session on Tuesday. The BCCI Medical Team assessed him. He is ruled out of the first T20I,” the BCCI had tweeted.
However, according to news agency PTI, Bumrah would surely miss the T20 World Cup, quoting a BCCI official who said the fast bowler could be out of action for months.
“Bumrah is not going to play the World T20 for sure. He has a serious back condition. It’s a stress fracture, and he could be out for a period of six months,” the BCCI official told PTI.
Notably, Bumrah had missed the Asia Cup in August and September with a back injury but was then named in the squad for the home T20I series against Australia and South Africa. The right-arm pacer played the second and third T20Is against the Aussies on September 23 and 25, returning figures of 1 for 23 and 0 for 50, before missing the opening match against South Africa on September 28 due to back pain.
If the development is indeed true, it will be Bumrah’s second such injury in the last three years. He was diagnosed with a minor stress fracture in his lower back in September 2019, an injury that kept him out of action for about three months.
Coming back to India’s T20 World Cup squad, the Men in Blue have two fast bowlers – Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar – in their reserves. India are eligible to make changes in their squad without seeking ICC’s permission till October 15, as teams that have directly qualified for the Super 12 round of the tournament don’t require to take consent from ICC.
India are in Group 2 in the Super 12 round of the global showpiece event, along with Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh and two teams from the qualifying round. The Rohit Sharma-led side will start their campaign against Pakistan at the MCG on October 23.
India T20 World Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (subject to confirmation by BCCI), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
Reserve players: Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.