Injured Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah began his preparation for the upcoming Ireland T20Is series, the Asia Cup and then the 2023 ODI World Cup, by bowling 10 overs in two spells to some of Mumbai's emerging batters in an intra-squad practice match on Friday at the Alur cricket ground near Bengaluru, according to reports.
This is the first time that Bumrah — who has been recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru — bowled in the last 10 months since suffering a back stress fracture that has kept him sidelined since last September and led to surgery earlier in 2023. His 10 overs came in a practice game against batters of the Mumbai Cricket Association.
Reports in the media suggest that Bumrah's performance in the 'match simulation,' which involved all bowlers pitching to Mumbai's batters, was — 10-2-34-1. His sole dismissal was that of opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi for an eight-ball duck.
He was not the only bowler working his way to recovery as missing out on action in the last six months, is Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna. Also recovering from a back stress fracture and subsequent surgery, he also bowled to the Mumbai batters in the practice game. Prasidh's figures, spread across three spells, were 10-2-26-1.
In a medical update on July 21, the BCCI announced that both Bumrah and Krishna 'will now play some practice games, which the NCA will organise. The BCCI Medical Team is pleased with their progress and will make a final decision after assessing them following the practice games.'
Over the last two weeks, the Mumbai senior team has been training in Alur near Bengaluru at a KSCA facility.
INFORMATION ON ODI WORLD CUP TICKETS
Meanwhile, The BCCI is expected to assign online ticket sales for the 2023 ODI World Cup to two online ticketing platforms/agencies - bookmyshow.com and Paytm.com. However, spectators will still need to possess physical tickets at the venues.
"Around half of the World Cup matches will be handled by each ticketing agency. The tickets for the high-demand India-Pakistan match and the final will be available on bookmyshow.com, while the tickets for the semifinals (at the Wankhede Stadium & the Eden Gardens in Kolkata) will be available on Paytm.com," a source informed TOI. Ticket sales are set to begin on August 10.
The ICC recce team has inspected all the 12 venues where the World Cup matches and warm-up games will be held.
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