Jasprit Bumrah may play T20Is vs Ireland | Cricket News – Times of India

Bumrah was picked for the home ODI series against New Zealand, but was then rested after experiencing back pain again. The BCCI is treading cautiously this time and wants him to play a few practice games at the National Cricket Academy before pronouncing him fit for a return to international cricket.

In a medical update on Friday, the BCCI, while informing about the fitness status of Bumrah and pacer Prasidh Krishna — who too underwent back surgery after suffering from a similar stress fracture — said, “The two fast bowlers are in the final stages of their rehab and are bowling with full intensity in the nets. The duo will now play some practice games which the NCA will organise. The BCCI medical team is pleased with their progress and will make a final decision after assessing them following the practice games.”

Bumrah has been undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru after having a back surgery in New Zealand in March 2023. Perhaps the best option to test Bumrah’s fitness would have been to ask him to play for West Zone in the upcoming Deodhar Trophy, a 50-over inter-zonal competition, but clearly the BCCI’s medical team is looking to increase his workload slowly.
The BCCI’s medical update also informed that batsmen KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have resumed batting in the nets. Both have put out videos on social media about it and are undergoing strength and fitness drills at NCA.

However, the medical update didn’t give a timeline on the return to top-level cricket for any of these players. Troubled by a bulging disc in his lower back, Iyer had to pull out of a Test against Australia in March in Ahmedabad and underwent surgery in England in April.
Rahul has been on the sidelines since suffering from an injury during the IPL.
In more encouraging news, the BCCI’s medical bulletin informed that star ’keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who is still recovering from a car accident he suffered in December last year, had made significant progress in his rehabilitation and commenced batting as well as wicketkeeping in the nets.

“He is currently following a fitness programme designed for him which includes strength, flexibility and running,” BCCI said.
“Perhaps, a realistic target for Pant would be the five-Test home series against England in January-February next year,” a source said.
Surya may lead in Ireland
With India’s T20 captain Hardik Pandya likely to be given a break from the three-match series against Ireland starting August 18, there is a possibility that Suryakumar Yadav, who is currently India’s vice-captain in the shortest format, could be asked to captain the side.

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India will play eight white-ball games in 189 days in the Caribbean & the USA, with the last of the five T20Is on August 13 in Miami.