New Delhi: Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has begun his rehabilitation from a back injury at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru as India sweat on his fitness ahead of the Champions Trophy that begins on February 19.
The right armer injured his back during India’s fifth Test loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series in Sydney and has since been on the mending table.
He was initially advised complete rest for five weeks during which he was told to stay away from working out in the gym. Having completed that off-loading period, Bumrah now begins rehab with days remaining of the tournament where India begin their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
“Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach Rajnikanth Sivagnanam and physio Thulasi Ram Yuvraj are currently working on Bumrah’s rehabilitation with Head of Sports Science, Dr Nitin Patel, personally monitoring the whole process.
“Obviously, the national team S&C coach Soham Desai and physio Kamlesh Jain are also kept in the loop,” a BCCI official told PTI.
Anxious wait
Only four-five people connected with the NCA and the Indian cricket team are aware of Bumrah’s fitness status. To make the match-winner ready for CT, the BCCI has formed a core team of three professionals.
Usually for rehab of injured centrally-contracted player, the BCCI allocates one strength-and-conditioning coach, one physio to monitor injury and a bowling or batting coach to oversee the technical skills.
Desai is accompanying the Indian team for the ongoing three-match ODI series against England and will be with the team in Dubai for the Champions Trophy matches.
Tropt Cooley will monitor Bumrah’s progress when he is deemed fit to bowl in training. Based on Dr Patel’s report on Bumrah’s availability, BCCI secretary and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar will be informed after which head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma will be notified.
The BCCI has the option of naming Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement but would wait till the last moment to give maximum time for him to be fit for the mega event.
Jasprit Bumrah injured his back during India’s fifth Test to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series in Sydney and has since been on the mending table. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
