The injury suffered by India’s top paceman Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney appears to be worse than expected. The injury was defined as just a “back spasm” when Bumrah left the field for hospital treatment on the second day of the Test, but the problem is likely to keep him sidelined for even longer. According to reports, Bumrah is expected to miss the entire white-ball duty against England, which features five T20Is and three ODIs, but his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy is also in doubt.
Bumrah has already missed several important events in India due to injury issues and the selectors are keen to ensure that this does not happen again. Therefore, risking the senior pacer against England is completely unthinkable. According to a report in RevSportz, Bumrah is expected to be in India’s Champions Trophy squad despite his injury issues, but his participation comes with conditions.
The team management will require permission from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical staff to use Bumrah at ICC events.
“It’s a bit frustrating (with the injury) but sometimes you have to respect your body and you can’t fight your body,” Bumrah said after the Sydney Test. “Sometimes you have to accept it. I would have liked to have bowled on the spiciest wicket of the series. I just felt a little uncomfortable after the first innings.”
Other players who have been out for some time, such as Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav, are also reportedly being monitored for a possible return.
Among batsmen, Yashasvi Jaiswal will also be included in India’s ODI squad and is expected to feature in the 50-over match against England as well as in the T20 roster. However, Jaiswal has been brought in only as a reserve opener by the selectors.
Rohit Sharma is expected to open as the team’s captain along with Shubman Gill. Following them will be Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, who will bat at number three and four respectively. Currently, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are in contention for the wicketkeeper slot, but Sanju Samson is not a strong candidate for the spot. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to form the spin trio, while Washington Sundar is also expected to be selected by the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar.
Hardik Pandya is also expected to be added to the roster, but there is not much confirmation whether Nitish Kumar Reddy will feature in the mega event. Varun Chakravarthy is another spinner who has caught the attention of the selectors, but his suitability for the 50-over format is yet to be proven.
Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj is expected to be rested for the T20I series against England, but his name is likely to be found in the squad list for the ODI duties against the same team. He is likely to be selected for the Champions Trophy along with Arshdeep Singh as well.
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