India's ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah is doubtful for the team's T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the USA, scheduled for Saturday (February 7) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

According to a PTI report, Bumrah was feeling slightly under the weather and also skipped the training session on the eve of the fixture.

“With the opening fixture expected to be a one-sided affair, the Indian team management is in no mood to take any risk with its most important fast bowler at the very start of a long campaign, it is learnt. Bumrah, central to India's white-ball plans, did not bowl at the nets on Friday, prompting speculation that he could be rested purely as a precautionary measure. He was running a bit of temperature,” the report stated.

If Bumrah misses out, Mohammed Siraj, who linked up with the squad on Friday evening after Harshit Rana was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury, is expected to feature in the playing XI.

With Hardik Pandya likely to share the new ball, Siraj might be utilized as the first-change bowler.

After the USA game, India’s Group A matches are slated to be held on February 12 against Namibia, on February 15 against Pakistan and on February 18 against Netherlands.

The Pakistan encounter remains uncertain as of today, making the USA contest largely inconsequential in the larger scheme of things.

Considering the heavy workload ahead and heavyweight opponents to follow, resting Bumrah against the lower-ranked teams seems to be a sensible option.

The Indian team management feels that preserving Bumrah for the latter stages of the tournament is paramount.

(With PTI Inputs)