Jasprit Bumrah is set to undergo surgery on his troublesome back and will soon fly to New Zealand for the same procedure that helped extend the career of former New Zealand spearhead Shane Bond.
Bond is also the bowling coach of Mumbai Indians and could have played a role in the Indian fast bowler zeroing in on the surgeon in Christchurch. Bumrah’s most recent breakdown, which is being considered as the start of another stress fracture, has forced the medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to face the fact that surgery on his troublesome vertebrae was probably the best option.
The operation will mean Bumrah, who last played for India in a T20I against Australia on September 25 last year, will be out of action for close to six months but could be in the reckoning for the World Cup. A lot will depend on how he recovers and how the rehab process goes, people in the know told The Telegraph.
The NCA medical team considered surgery as the last option, but given the stress reaction on his back despite adequate rest, they decided to take no chances. Bumrah has already been ruled out of the forthcoming IPL and will also miss the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June, if India qualifies.
It is also likely that a doctor attached to the NCA could accompany Bumrah for the surgery. The fast bowler had visited a specialist in England in September 2019 after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in the lower back.
