Jasprit Bumrah has been officially ruled out of the T20 World Cup in Australia with a back injury. The Telegraph had earlier reported that the premier fast bowler’s injury has been diagnosed as a “stress reaction” in the back.
In a media release on Monday evening, the BCCI confirmed that the decision was taken following a detailed assessment and in consultation with specialists. He is the second important India player to miss the tournament after all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out last month following a knee surgery.
The fast bowler went through several tests under the supervision of the medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) since being ruled out on the eve of the opening match of the T20I series against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram.
Bumrah had complained of back spasms after the series in England in July and subsequently missed the Asia Cup in August and September but was then picked for the home T20I series against Australia and South Africa after four weeks of rehabilitation. He played the second and third T20Is against Australia on September 23 and 25, returning figures of 1/23 and 0/50.
The fast bowler had been diagnosed with a “minor stress fracture in his lower back” in September 2019 and was sidelined for about three months.
India are also waiting on the fitness of another all-rounder Deepak Hooda, who is currently at the NCA for treatment of a back injury that he picked up during the T20I series against Australia last month.
The NCA medical team had tried several options to make Bumrah available for the event Down Under. It included a detailed treatment and rehabilitation programme but decided against forcing him into action earlier than desireable since it could have an adverse effect on his overall fitness.
“Such stress reaction in the back normally takes about six weeks to heal.
“After going through scan reports the medical team ruled that it would be prudent to take things easy and not rush him into action given India’s packed international calendar,” a source told The Telegraph.
The remaining fast bowlers in India’s T20 World Cup side are Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel and all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Deepak Chahar or Mohammed Shami, named in the World Cup reserves, is likely to be included in the 15-member squad as Bumrah’s replacement. Shami has just recovered from a bout of Covid19. India have until October 15 to name a replacement.
