On Wednesday, August 16, ahead of the three-match series against Ireland, Jasprit Bumrah, India's pace spearhead and newly appointed captain for the Ireland series, was captured in fine form during India's first nets session in Ireland. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a captivating video clip showcasing Bumrah shooting toe-crushing yorkers and lethal bouncers to India's budding batters.
Watch the video here…
Bumrah stunned a right-handed batter with a swift bouncer, compelling him to evade the ball quickly. He then precisely targeted the feet of a left-handed player with an impeccable yorker, earning admiration from fellow players during the India nets practice.
This training session seemed to encapsulate his entire recovery journey at the NCA, characterized by progressively intensifying his training and adhering to a specialized fitness plan. The Indian team lineup also features pacer Prasidh Krishna, who is returning to the team after an extended break due to a surgery for a lumbar stress fracture.
Bumrah's journey back to the nets after a hiatus of 11 months has been a challenging one. A back injury, initially detected in the summer of 2022, made its presence felt by sidelining him from high-profile tournaments including the Asia Cup. A hurried decision to play him in the World T20 compounded the injury during a subsequent home series versus Australia. Consequently, this prolific pacer was absent from major cricketing events, including the Asia Cup, the T20 World Cup in 2022, and the entire 2023 IPL season.
Aiming for a long-term solution to this recurring issue, Bumrah underwent a successful back surgery in March 2023 in Christchurch, New Zealand. His post-operative phase saw him committing to an intense rehabilitation regimen at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, India. His efforts, reflected in bowling seven overs daily at the NCA, signaled his unwavering resolve to return to top-tier cricket.
Bumrah's year-long absence cast a shadow over the Indian cricket team's performance, particularly during the home season leading up to the World Test Championship Final.
However, in a testament to his skills and determination, the BCCI, in July 2023, announced Bumrah's reentry into international cricket. Not only will he be returning to the field, but he will also be leading the Indian squad in the upcoming T20 series against Ireland. This series, spanning from August 18 to 23, marks a significant milestone for Bumrah as he will shoulder the captaincy in white-ball cricket for the first time, adding a new dimension to his illustrious career.
India's squad for Ireland tour: Jasprit Bumrah (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan.
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