Former India opener Aakash Chopra has talked about the injury concerns with pacer Jasprit Bumrah who was recently named in the Indian ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series but was later pulled out after he complained of stiffness in his back during preparations.
Bumrah has not played for India since September 2022 when he made a short comeback from his back injury after touring England. He was not fully fit and hence missed the Asia Cup, the T20 World Cup 2022, and other series.
He was expected to be fit in the new year, but after the current setback, there is a concern that Bumrah might miss the important Test series against Australia as well.
Aakash Chopra said that Bumrah’s repeated absence was not good news for Indian cricket from a World Cup perspective and India will have to adjust to playing without Bumrah due to his recent injury issues.
"I am slightly worried because he has not played cricket since September. Perhaps it's time to get ready to live without Bumrah. He played an odd match in between where he got injured and didn't come back. He then comes and goes back again.
His name comes into the team and then he is not there. He was a late inclusion here and was out again. It's not a good story because it is a World Cup year and you have already missed the last World Cup,” Aakash Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
Chopra termed Bumrah irreplaceable but also suggested a few names that can be considered as options.
"Although there is no one like Bumrah and will not be there as well at this point in time, the good thing is that you have Mohammed Siraj - the way his stature has grown, Umran Malik is doing well, Mohammad Shami does well in ODIs, Arshdeep Singh is ready, I am not sure about Prasidh Krishna's injury but he is also looking okay," Chopra added.
