New Delhi: In a huge blow for Team India, stand-in skipper and premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah refrained from bowling during Australia’s run-chase in their second innings on Day 3 of the ongoing 5th Test between the two sides in Sydney on Sunday. Bumrah refused to continue bowling after suffering a back spasm while bowling on Day 2 of the Test match.
Amid doubts over his participation in the remainder of the Test match, the stand-in Indian skipper did come out to bat during India’s second innings and was dismissed on a duck by Scott Boland. However, he didn’t return to bowl for the visitors as Australia were handed a target of 162 runs after India got bowled out for 157 runs in their second innings.
Bumrah’s absence with the ball during Australia’s chase is a huge setback for India in the Test match as they are in a must-win situation in Sydney with the series on the line. India’s chances of remaining alive in the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) final also depend on their victory in the Sydney Test as a loss will see them crash out.
Why is Jasprit Bumrah not bowling for India on Day 3 of 5th Test?
Bumrah didn’t return to bowl for India during Austaralia’s chase on Day 3 after suffering a back spasm on Day 2. Bumrah had left the field after bowling just 10 overs for India on Day 2 and was later spotted heading to the hospital for scans with the Indian team support staff in a van. Bumrah later joined the rest of the squad at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) but there was no official update on his injury status.
The Indian pacer has previously struggled with a back injury and has served long spells on the sidelines. Bumrah’s workload was under the scanner throughout the series with many feeling the pacer was over bowled after he bowled more than 50 overs in the 4th Test against Australia in Melbourne. Bumrah has been India’s best bowler in the series so far by a distance.
The 31-year-old pacer has picked up 32 wickets in five matches at a brilliant average of 13.06 and is set to finish the series with the most wickets by any bowler despite having bowled just 10 overs in the 5th Test so far. Bumrah on Saturday broke the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi’s record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in a Test series in Australia with 32 wickets in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Tropjhy 2024-25.
India’s stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah refrained from bowling during Australia’s run-chase in their second innings on Day 3 of the 5th Test between the two sides in Sydney on Sunday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
