India’s stand-in captain and premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is battling injury concerns during the fifth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The speedster has left the field on multiple occasions and bowled just one over after lunch on Day 2 before heading back to the dressing room for treatment.
Bumrah’s Workload Raises Questions
Bumrah has been India’s go-to bowler throughout the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy, delivering long and taxing spells across the series. His workload, coupled with the responsibility of leading the team in two matches, seems to have taken a toll. Former Australian cricketers observed that Bumrah appeared physically strained even before the start of Day 2.
Bumrah Heads to Hospital for Scans
Jasprit Bumrah’s injury concerns have escalated as the star pacer was seen leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground for a hospital visit, accompanied by members of the support staff. This development occurred shortly after Bumrah left the field multiple times during Day 2 of the fifth Test against Australia. Reports suggest that the move is precautionary, with Bumrah potentially undergoing scans to assess the severity of his condition. His absence is a worrying sign for Team India, as they rely heavily on his skills both as a bowler and a leader in this high-stakes match. The team management has yet to issue an official update, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts anxiously awaiting news on Bumrah’s fitness.
Chasing History Amidst Struggles
With 32 wickets in the series so far, Jasprit Bumrah is on the brink of breaking a significant record. He’s just one wicket away from surpassing Harbhajan Singh’s tally for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in a bilateral Test series against Australia. However, the injury could derail his chances of breaking the milestone in Sydney.
Bumrah has been a driving force for India throughout the series. In the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, the 31-year-old has taken on the dual burden of leading the side and spearheading the bowling attack. His leadership paid off right from the start when he guided India to a crushing 295-run victory in the series opener in Perth.
A Familiar Battle with Injuries
This isn’t the first time Bumrah has faced injury troubles. He suffered a career-threatening back injury two years ago, which required surgery and a long rehabilitation period. The pacer made a remarkable comeback to international cricket but has since been managed carefully to avoid overburdening him.
With India trailing 1-2 in the series, Jasprit Bumrah’s presence is crucial if they want to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team needs him firing on all cylinders to keep their hopes alive. But if his injury sidelines him, it’ll leave a huge hole in India’s bowling attack. In that case, the pressure will fall on Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to step up and carry the load.
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