The fitness of India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has become a national issue ever since he broke down after playing two T20Is against Australia in September. He had been on a break after England tour in July due to a stress fracture of the back and then went back for rehab after a stress reaction to the back.
This led to him missing the T20 World Cup 2022 and the ongoing Test series and ODIs against Australia.
However, it has been reported that Bumrah is nearing full fitness and will return to competitive cricket in IPL 2023 and that the BCCI medical team will monitor his workload, keeping the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup in mind.
Similar sentiments were shared by former Indian cricketer and broadcaster Aakash Chopra, who said that Mumbai Indians, Bumrah’s IPL franchise, should rest the pacer if needed and has to abide by the BCCI and monitor his fitness.
Chopra while speaking to Sportskeeda said, “You’re an Indian player first and then you play for your franchise. So if Bumrah feels any discomfort, the BCCI will step in and tell the franchise that we are not going to release him. The world won’t end if he doesn’t play seven games with Jofra Archer.
At the same time, when you’re fit, you want to keep on playing as that only makes you better. So I definitely feel MI will pay heed to it if BCCI steps in because he is a national treasure and things aren’t as difficult to manage as they seem to be at the moment.”
BCCI keeping the 50-over World Cup and WTC final in the mind later this year has shortlisted 20 players for this year’s IPL who will be monitored at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
The IPL 2023 will be played from March 31 onwards with the format going back to home and away matches.
