BCCI provides major medical update on senior Indian players
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided an update on Friday, July 21, on five injured players who are currently going under rehabilitation viz- Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, respectively. Bumrah and Krishna are in the final stages of rehab and are bowling with full intensity in the nets. The BCCI medical team is happy with their progress and will make a final decision following their participation in the practice games organised by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
Wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant, who met a near-fatal car accident on December 30, 2022, has made significant progress according to a statement. The 25-year-old has begun batting as well as keeping in the nets and is following a fitness programme designed for him which includes strength, flexibility and running. Meanwhile, star batters KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have also begun batting in the nets and are currently undergoing strength and fitness drills.
The medical team is happy with their progress as well and will be increasing their intensity in terms of both skills and strength and conditioning in the coming days. Team India would hope for all of their players to return to the field as soon as possible with the ODI World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to take place in the country from October 5. According to reports, Bumrah is likely to make a comeback in the team during the three-match T20I series against Ireland in August.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have also started practicing in the nets
Furthermore, batters Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will hold the key for India in the World Cup. Hence, their services will be needed in the middle order. As per the BCCI, they have already done a significant part of their rehabilitation process.
Notably, Iyer has been out of action since March 2023, while Rahul has been out of action since May 2023. In a good piece of news, Pant is unlikely to make a comeback to the team this year and has been missed badly by the team. In his absence, India would need other players to step up and take up the job with the gloves in the World Cup.