Jasprit Bumrah has been plagued with a back injury since July last year and has played just two games for India in that period. He missed the Asia Cup 2022, and the T20 World Cup 2022, and will miss the upcoming IPL 2023 as well, as he has undergone back surgery to rectify the issues.
However, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has opined that with the kind of bowling action Bumrah has, he will continue to break down if he plays regularly in all formats.
Jasprit Bumrah had taken a break after the England tour in July 2022, after he had suffered a back stress injury. He underwent rehab in the NCA and returned to play two T20Is against Australia in September, but after those matches, he complained of back pain and scans revealed a stress reaction to the back.
This led to him undergoing further medical tests and rehab and finally, he had back surgery in New Zealand recently. But this intrusive procedure and lengthy recovery time have put him out of action for a long time and everyone hopes he’ll be back in action in time for the ODI World Cup later this year.
Speaking about the same, Shoaib Akhtar told Sports Tak: “He has this front-on action and when he loads up before delivering the bowl he puts a lot of pressure on his spinal cord. We used to be side-on, and bowlers like me could take help from our hips, thighs, from left hand as well, and that used to compensate (for the pressure on the back). Unfortunately, Jasprit doesn’t have that leverage.”
Shoaib also lamented Indian team management for not being able to manage Bumrah.
“A front-on action has no compensation and with that action, when the back gives in, you can’t escape it irrespective of how much you try. With the amount of cricket he has played he will break down. He was a regular in all three formats then he was playing IPL. His action is not that sustainable.
It’s unfortunate, I feel India could have managed him a bit better. And he himself should have been more aware of which format he should play and which he should skip,” he added.
Bumrah’s current injury is his longest period on the sidelines, but as recently as 2019-20, he spent three months out after suffering a stress fracture in his lower back.
Shoaib also suggested what Bumrah needs to do to stay fit and prolong his career.
He said: “If I have been in the management, I would have told him to play only three ODIs out of five and play only the crucial one. More training and fewer matches will prolong his career. He needs a lot of muscle in his back.”
“You can’t change his action, he has done so well with this action. He is a brave bowler and it makes me sad to see him going through this phase. I wish him a speedy recovery,” said Akhtar.
