Bumrah and Harshal regain fitness, set to return for T20 World Cup

Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel are set to return to the Indian team after recovering from their respective injuries. The pair were absent from India’s disappointing Asia Cup campaign due to side strain (Harshal Patel) and a hip injury (Jasprit Bumrah).

Bumrah and Harshal were undergoing their rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru recently, and according to reports from a cricket news website, they have gained full fitness after bowling normally at the NCA. The duo will be in contention for selection for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia and South Africa, with the team management keeping a keen eye on the star bowling duo’s fitness.

Notably, India had gone in with four fast bowlers for the Asia Cup, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya. It is almost certain that Avesh Khan will be sacrificed for the returning pacers, while the team will also have to drop one of the spinners among Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, and Axar Patel, who was a late replacement for Ravindra Jadeja.

Will Shami return to the setup?

Although Ravi Bishnoi was impressive in his outing against Pakistan, he is likely to get the axe from the team. Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s surgery means Axar Patel will be the like for replacement for the southpaw. The Asia Cup has raised a few questions about the Indian middle-order and the omission of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami from the squad.

Shami who has featured regularly for the red ball and 50-over team is often seen on the sidelines for the shortest format of the game. With the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, Shami might also get a recall to the T20I team. The big question for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the T20 WC will be the inclusion of either Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik or both in the team, with the selection committee meeting likely to take place by September 15.