Jasprit Bumrah Injury Update: India Fast-bowler Begins Rehabilitation at NCA, BCCI to Wait on Champions Trophy Call

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India's star fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, is set to commence his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after undergoing medical assessments under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team.

The 31-year-old pacer, who suffered a back injury during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney last month, has been asked to off-load for five weeks. However, with a crucial selection deadline approaching, his recovery timeline is under close scrutiny.

Bumrah's recent scans were internally reviewed by the BCCI, and he is expected to begin physical activity, including gym work and light bowling, within the next 24 to 48 hours. While no official statement has been released on the severity of his injury, his availability for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 remains uncertain.

BCCI Adopts 'Wait and Watch' Approach

With the ICC's February 11 deadline to finalize squads fast approaching, the BCCI appears to be in no rush to make a final call on Bumrah's participation. A source close to developments stated to the Times of India, "Even if there is a 1% chance, the BCCI is likely to wait. They did the same with Hardik Pandya as they waited for close to two weeks before getting Prasidh Krishna as a replacement."

The source added, "Yes, those two incidents happened during the campaign, but the approach with Bumrah could well be no different." The Indian board has previously followed a similar strategy, notably in the cases of Hardik Pandya during the 2023 ODI World Cup.

They did the same with Shubman Gill, who was retained in the squad despite contracting dengue. This time, the selectors are keeping their options open, as they can still request a replacement later from the Event Technical Committee if Bumrah fails to regain match fitness.

Bumrah was initially named in India's ODI squad for the ongoing series against England but was later withdrawn. In his absence, India has been experimenting with pace options, with Harshit Rana receiving his debut and Varun Chakravarthy being added to the squad.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged Varun's inclusion, stating that the spinner is "very much in contention" for future selection. With the Champions Trophy set to begin on February 19, Bumrah's fitness remains a key concern for Team India. While his rehabilitation has begun, the final decision on his participation is likely to go down to the wire.