Indian cricket fans eagerly await the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the World Test Championship (WTC) final due to injury. After undergoing back surgery in March, the fast bowler is now on the path to recovery, diligently working at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. With just 100 days remaining until the ODI World Cup, which will be hosted exclusively in India for the first time, reports suggest that Bumrah has begun bowling in the nets and is expected to participate in practice matches at the NCA next month.

According to emerging reports, Bumrah has been bowling seven overs in the nets, showing positive signs of recuperation. His fitness will be thoroughly assessed after his participation in the upcoming practice games at the NCA.

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Ramji Srinivasan, former strength and conditioning coach of the Indian team, advises against rushing Bumrah’s return. In January, the Gujarat pacer attempted a comeback during the ODI series against Sri Lanka but experienced back pain after just three overs in the nets, leading to his release from the squad.

Jasprit Bumrah will be playing a few practice matches at the NCA next month. (PTI). pic.twitter.com/k1IlnBV1lN

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 27, 2023

“He should not be hurried. Playing practice matches at the NCA is a good step as it will help tune his body to the demands of a match. But he should be made to play in some actual (domestic) matches before bringing him to top-level cricket,” Ramji Srinivasan cautioned, emphasizing the importance of allowing sufficient recovery time for Bumrah.

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Recovering from a stress fracture requires delicate handling, and the demands of international cricket are different from net sessions. Srinivasan stresses the need for Bumrah’s body to be fully prepared to handle the workload before returning to the top-level competition.

In addition to Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are also at the NCA, undergoing rehabilitation for their respective injuries. While both players are progressing well, it remains uncertain when they will make their much-awaited comebacks to competitive cricket.