Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will reportedly miss the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins in Galle on August 15.
Initial medical tests conducted at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s High Performance Centre have revealed that the 32-year-old Bumrah still has a left knee injury.
Accordingly, it is risky to return him to action too soon, so the authorities have decided to rest him until he recovers fully.
Bumrah was given a special injection last month for the knee injury he suffered in the latter part of the T20 World Cup, and it is understood that it will take longer than expected for him to fully recover.
Although there were earlier discussions to include him in the team for the second Test in Colombo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s medical team has been reluctant to take any risks.
“In the past, players have been rushed into matches before they are fully recovered and have suffered re-injury. You can’t take such a risk with a player like Bumrah. With a lot of matches coming up, including the Asian Games, the New Zealand tour and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy early next year, his full recovery is the priority,” said an inside source.
Bumrah was included in the Shubman Gill-led Indian squad subject to a fitness test.
Accordingly, the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, is set to name a replacement for him.
29-year-old Oqib Nabi, who represents Jammu and Kashmir, is seen as the frontrunner to replace Bumrah.
He toured Sri Lanka with India ‘A’ last month and took six wickets in two matches.
The Indian team’s fast bowling unit currently consists of Mohammad Siraj, Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Aina.
English 
Sinhala