India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s injury woes doesn’t seem to end. After recovering from the side strain, Bhuvneshwar made his comeback into the national side during the recently concluded T20Is against West Indies but the right-armer couldn’t even last the entire white-ball series as he got ruled out of the ODIs with another injury on Friday (December 13).

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Although BCCI’s media release says “Bhuvneshwar complained of pain in his right groin”, a report published in TOI claims that the seamer had been carrying sportsman’s hernia all along, which the doctors failed to notice. Sources in the know say “he was rushed back into the game and it’s turning out to be a disaster”.

According to the report, Bhuvneshwar is now scheduled to undergo surgery for sports hernia and then will have to go through a two-month recovery period.

“He will certainly miss the entire tour of New Zealand. Probably should be in a position to return to cricket only during the IPL, if all goes well,” sources quoted as saying by TOI.

There has been no call taken on Bhuvneshwar’s surgery yet.

“He’ll have to go through one. That’s confirmed. The how, when and where is being worked out,” say sources.

Luckily, the 29-year-old brought it to the notice of the team management as early as he could.

“It’s is not the first time that a cricketer carrying an injury has gone through something like this at the NCA. We all remember the Wriddhiman Saha episode, don’t we? His career was put in jeopardy, the way his recovery was handled,” the source said.

Bhuvneshwar’s injury and the lack of proper diagnosis have once again put National Cricket Academy (NCA) under the scanner. The paceman was going through strength and conditioning programmes at the NCA in Bengaluru while recovering from side strain.

NCA has been previously scrutinized for its poor handling of Wriddhiman Saha’s shoulder injury and Prithvi Shaw’s case after the young cricketer tested positive for dope.

“What’s happening in Bhuvneshwar’s case is troubling. But, honestly, here’s what is more worrisome. His is not a one-of-its-kind case. There are more such cases that are waiting to come out. It’s just that players are afraid to talk,” add those tracking developments.

(With TOI inputs)