"Hello friend, we meet again": Jasprit Bumrah hints at international cricket return
May 27, 2023
New Delhi [India], May 27 : Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been out of action for the last several months due to injury, seems to be on the path of a stunning comeback to the sport.
The 29-year-old pacer posted a picture of his cricket shoes on his Instagram.
"Hello friend, we meet again," said Bumrah's post caption.
In April, Bumrah underwent surgery on his lower back in New Zealand. The medical procedure was successful and helped Bumrah get free from pain.
"Jasprit Bumrah underwent surgery on his lower back in New Zealand which was successful and he remains pain-free. The fast bowler was advised by the specialist to start his rehab six weeks after the surgery and accordingly, Bumrah commenced his rehab management at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru from Friday," said a press release from BCCI on April 15.
Bumrah is out of action since September 2022 owing to a back injury and as a result, missed the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. The ace pacer completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and has been seen bowling in the nets but BCCI has chosen not to rush him back into action.
The pacer also missed Indian Premier League (2023), in which he represents Mumbai Indians. Though MI reached playoffs, their bowling attack looked extremely toothless without Bumrah's presence on numerous occasions.
While fans wait to see Bumrah back on the field with his unique bowling action, he has been unable to join the team due to a recurring injury. He has attempted to make a comeback more than once since suffering a back injury in August last year which ruled him out of the Asia Cup. Initially, the injury did not seem serious as he was named in India's T20 World Cup squad in September and even played the last two T20Is against Australia on September 23 and September 25 last year.
Three days later, Bumrah did not play the first T20I against South Africa and it was learnt that he was taken for scans, which revealed a stress-related injury in his back. He was rushed to NCA and the scans there confirmed that the injury was serious. It ruled him out of the T20 World Cup, in which India achieved a semifinal finish.
Bumrah resumed his rehab in November and started to bowl in mid-December. His progress seemed to be positive as he was added to the white-ball series played in January against Sri Lanka more than a week after the original squad was picked up.
Bumrah had performed the match simulation exercises in the NCA, but discomfort resurfaced while taking up higher workloads during fitness drills in January. Scans revealed the development of a fresh niggle, which ruled him out of the Sri Lanka series and Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
