Bumrah excluded from ODI series after back injury

Guwahati: The return of Jasprit Bumrah to action after failing to fully recover from a stress fracture in his lower back has been delayed further as the senior Indian fast bowler has been excluded from the ODI series against Sri Lanka on Monday.

Bumrah was included in the squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka starting on Tuesday, but the BCCI support staff and the medical team have jointly decided that he should “return to the game”. will be delayed, keeping in mind the all-important Border Gavaskar Trophy.
“Bumrah has not traveled to Guwahati with the team. A senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity that he still needs some more time to get back to full fitness as he will need it during the Test series against Australia.
It will be interesting to see if Bumrah recovers to take on New Zealand for the ODI series starting January 18, without playing a single domestic match.

“Under MSK Prasad and the previous team management, the committee made it a rule that a player should play at least one or if possible two domestic games before he is ready to make an international return from injury. Must play,” recalled a former official.

Bumrah suffered a stress fracture in his lower back after the England tour and was ruled out of last year’s Asia Cup.
To boost the team’s chances in the T20 World Cup, Bumrah was drafted into the T20 team during the home series against Australia where he once again broke down and was ruled out indefinitely.

It will not be a surprise if Bumrah plays the entire four-match border Gavaskar Trophy starting February 9. They are expected to be used sparingly as they will be needed for the marquee ODI World Cup at home later this year.