In what can be a major blow for India, star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is reportedly set to miss the group stage matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Bumrah picked up a back injury during the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar series where India lost 3-1. Bumrah went off the field on Day 2 of the Sydney Test and didn’t come out to bowl on the final day.
In a recent report in Indian Express, Bumrah is now set to miss the group stage games in the upcoming ICC event in Pakistan and Dubai. He has back swelling and has been asked to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. His recovery will be monitored there. The report added that the speedster is expected to be fully fit in the first week of March.
India are in Group A in the Champions Trophy alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand. They will take on Bangladesh in their opening clash on February 20, followed by the face-off against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23. They will play New Zealand in their last group game on March 2 and it is not clear whether the speedster will make it for that game.
More to follow…