New Delhi: Former Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach Shane Bond has warned India not to overuse pacer Jasprit Bumrah, suggesting he could be on the verge of suffering a back fracture. Bumrah is currently out of action due to a back injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia. The pacer suffered back spasms during the 5th Test of the five-match series in Sydney and didn’t bowl during Australia’s second innings in the match.
He was asked to offload after the injury and is yet to return to action. Bumrah was initially expected to return during India’s ODI series against England at home this year, but he failed to make the cut and was later ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025. The 31-year-old is yet to make his comeback for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Bumrah has regularly faced troubles with back issues, and Bond believes the fast bowler should take his time before making his return to competitive cricket. The former Mumbai Indians bowling coach feels another injury can prove career-threatening for the pacer and that India should learn from the Australia Test series on how to manage the pacer’s workload going forward.
“Jasprit Bumrah had the (2023) surgery, but he played all that (Australia) Test series, performing unbelievably. At the end of the day, he just bowled too much over a one-month period. And it hasn’t cracked, he hasn’t got a fracture, he is on the borderline of a fracture. But what India would have learned is, if you then look at a five-Test match series in England and they do the same thing, they are probably going to get the same result. So you can’t do that. You need a squad of bowlers where you can sort of pick and choose,” Bond told ESPN Cricinfo.
India need a squad of bowlers to pick and choose: Bond
Bond stressed that the Indian team management should learn from their mistakes in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and not repeat them in the England Test series by relying majorly on Bumrah. Bumrah bowled a total of 151 overs before suffering back spasms which saw him getting sidelined. Bond wants India to develop a group of pacers to choose from for the England series.
“But what India would have learned is, if you then look at a five-Test match series in England and they do the same thing, they are probably going to get the same result. So you can’t do that. You need a squad of bowlers where you can sort of pick and choose. Because if you lose him, you have got T20 World Cups, you’ve got 50-overs World Cups and he’s an important member across all formats, IPL, all that sort of stuff,” said the former New Zealand pacer.
Bumrah has resumed bowling at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru as he continues his recovery. However, the right-arm pacer is yet to get clearance from the BCCI medical staff to make his comeback for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. MI have already played three matches without the key pacer this season and will be hopeful of his return soon.
Former Mumbai Indians bowling coach has warned Jasprit Bumrah is on the verge of suffering a back fracture and his workload should be managed carefully going forward. Bumrah is currenty recovering from a back injury and is yet to return to action for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
