Bumrah faces fitness test ahead of Afghanistan T20Is as THIS player emerges as backup option

Jasprit Bumrah is undergoing a key fitness assessment this week as the national team prepares for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. Bumrah, along with several other players including Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana, is taking part in match simulation tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence from 4 to 9 September, a report in the Times of India stated. 

The BCCI medical team declared the group clinically fit last week, and officials remain confident the bowlers will be ready for the series. The Indian squad is scheduled to assemble in Delhi on 10 September, with the T20Is against Afghanistan set to begin shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, young fast bowler Prince Yadav has emerged as a potential backup option for the Indian pace spearhead Bumrah. 

Bumrah faces fitness test ahead of Afghanistan T20Is as THIS player emerges as backup option

Yadav, who made his international debut during the ODI series against Afghanistan in June, recently recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in Zimbabwe in July. The Centre of Excellence has cleared him and is available for selection, as per the aforementioned report. Selectors regard the promising pacer, who impressed during this year’s IPL, as a serious prospect in the limited-overs format. 

Bumrah has not played a first-class match since the Test series against South Africa last year and has largely featured in T20 cricket following a knee injury earlier in 2026. Team management is expected to carefully manage his workload, with an eye on longer-format commitments later in the season.

ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana's special 124 sends India into Asia Cup'26 semifinal with 137-run win vs Hong Kong