India captain Jasprit Bumrah has raised injury concerns after leaving the field midway through day two of the New Year's Test in Sydney. Bumrah, who bowled only one over post-lunch, was seen exiting the stadium with the team doctor and a security officer around 2 p.m. local time. He was not dressed in his whites, hinting at a potential medical evaluation.
Bumrah's workload has been a point of concern throughout this tour. He has delivered 152.1 overs across nine innings, claiming an impressive 32 wickets at an average of 13.06. His performances have surpassed Bishan Bedi’s record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in Australia and placed him among the top performers of all time.
During the morning session, Bumrah had already spent three of the last five overs off the field but returned to bowl the final overs before lunch. After the break, his first delivery to Alex Carey showed signs of struggle, with speeds dropping to the low 120s-130s (kph). Following that over, Bumrah left the field and was later spotted on the broadcast leaving the SCG in a car.
Concerns about Bumrah’s workload were highlighted by Rohit Sharma after the Melbourne Test, where Bumrah bowled 52 overs—his highest in a single Test. Rohit acknowledged the challenge of managing a bowler in such stellar form, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring.
“We’ve tried to maximize Bumrah’s form, but there comes a time to step back and give him a breather,” Rohit had said. “I’ve been very cautious, constantly discussing his fitness with him.”
Bumrah’s injury history adds to the worry. In 2022, he spent a year recovering from a stress fracture in his back. The current injury could be another significant blow, especially with India needing to win this Sydney Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With Bumrah off the field, Virat Kohli seemed to assume leadership duties in the afternoon session. The absence of a designated vice-captain has left the team improvising after Rohit stepped aside from captaincy for this match due to poor form.
The Indian team will now anxiously await updates on Bumrah’s condition as they face a critical juncture in the series.
Updated on 4th January, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.