Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness has come under scrutiny after he experienced back spasms towards the end of India’s tour to Australia, forcing him to sit out the second innings of the fifth Test in Sydney. To ensure he is fully prepared for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled for February-March, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may opt to rest Bumrah for the majority of the upcoming white-ball series against England at home.
According to reports from PTI, the exact nature of Bumrah’s injury is still unclear, and the BCCI will make a final decision on his participation based on further assessments. This injury has brought the focus back on Bumrah’s workload and the Indian team’s heavy reliance on him.
The 30-year-old bowler had a standout performance in the just-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, bowling 151.2 overs across the five Tests and finishing as the series’ leading wicket-taker with 32 wickets at an impressive average of 13.06, including three five-wicket hauls.
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The report also states that if Bumrah’s injury is classified as a Grade 1 strain, he will need at least two to three weeks of recovery before returning to competitive cricket. A Grade 2 injury would require six weeks of rehabilitation, while a Grade 3 injury could sideline him for up to three months, including an extensive rehab program.
🚨 JASPRIT BUMRAH RESTED vs ENGLAND 🚨
– Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested for the white ball series against England to keep him ready for the Champions Trophy 2025. (Kushan Sarkar/PTI). pic.twitter.com/1TRX1MwxEA
— Nick. (@CricWithNick) January 6, 2025
India’s next major assignment will be a five-match T20I series against England, starting January 22, followed by three ODIs in preparation for the Champions Trophy. Although Bumrah was expected to skip the T20Is, he was initially slated to play in at least two of the three ODIs to gear up for the Champions Trophy.
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However, the severity of his injury will determine whether he misses the entire ODI series or manages to feature in one match. The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, with India opening their campaign against Bangladesh the following day in Dubai.
