Jasprit Bumrah to remain in New Zealand until March-end

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has undergone back surgery to be match-fit for the ODI World Cup at home in October-November this year. The surgery was performed in New Zealand on Monday. Following the surgery, Bumrah will now stay in New Zealand till the end of March. The goal of the BCCI’s medical staff is to restart his training and bowling by August, and his workload will increase slowly after that with the idea of getting him match-ready for the World Cup.

Bumrah played his last white-ball series against South Africa in late September last year at home, and since then, he has not featured in any form of cricket for India. The cause of his injury was a stress reaction in his lower back, as reported. He was supposed to make a comeback at home in January against Sri Lanka, but was ruled out due to a niggle in his back.

According to reports, BCCI’s medical staff in National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru had been treating Bumrah’s condition urgently and had recommended surgery as a possible solution. The BCCI, in collaboration with the NCA, decided to proceed with the surgery in New Zealand after discussing the matter with Bumrah.

Bumrah’s back-to-back injury woes for India

Bumrah has made multiple efforts to make a comeback but has ended up getting injured more than once, currently sitting out due to the concerned back injury sustained last August. He was ruled out of the Asia Cup as well, inflicting an irrepairable damage on the team. He played his last two T20Is against Australia on September 23 and 25.

Bumrah was also ruled out of the first T20I against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram. Later, when the scan results came in, it was identified as stress related damage, and the additional scans at the NCA revealed that the injury was of significant concern. As a result, he was ruled out of the T20 World Cup too.

Bumrah started his rehabilitation in November and began bowling towards the middle of December. Bumrah was added to the Indian squad for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka, but suffered discomfort during a fitness drill in Mumbai in early January and was finally ruled out of the Australia Tests as well. The NCA, Indian team management, and Rohit Sharma all want India not to rush Bumrah back into action until he is fully fit and able to perform at his best.