Team India has lost another key player as fast pacer Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out due to an abdominal strain on Tuesday. He added to the list of already injured Mayank Agarwal, who took a knock on his hand, Ravichandran Ashwin, who sustained a back problem during the Sydney Test and other key members.
Mayank Agarwal was sought to be the replacement of batsman Hanuma Vihari in the playing eleven for the Brisbane Test. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin was playing in good form and was raking in wickets for team India, withstanding his injuries.
Bumrah’s injury was confirmed by a BCCI official on Tuesday.
"Jasprit Bumrah suffered an abdominal strain while fielding in Sydney. He is going to sit out of the Brisbane Test but is expected to be available against England," BCCI said.
Jasprit Bumrah, the key to the Indian bowling line-up, sustained a strain which was learnt after the initial scan during the last day of the third test match against Australia. Keeping in mind the upcoming four-match tour of India against England, the board decided not to include the fast pacer in the next match line-up, according to the BCCI.
Although Bumrah’s injury is not aggravated and is just a strain instead of a tear, team India wants to be careful to not worsen the situation.
"If we take the risk of him playing at 50 per cent, what if the injury aggravates and he breaks down in the middle of the match and then ruled out for better part of England series?”
“England is the last series which will decide the qualification for World Test Championship final and we are in contention and would require a fit Bumrah," the BCCI added.
Mohammed Siraj, a two-Test matches old player is expected to take the charge for Indian bowling lineup and will be joined by Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan in the Brisbane Test, starting January 15.
Unless, Bumrah is fielded at 30 per cent fitness, risking the entire England series, T Natarajan will make his debut.
After KL Rahul and Hanuma Vihari’s grade 2 tear, a major problem looks team India in the eye as there is no back-up middle-order left in the reserves to cover their positions up. This leaves a major gap in the squad which will be tested by the Australians in Brisbane on January 15.
