NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah reached Bengaluru on Sunday (February 2) evening, and the star India seamer is set to undergo scans and further assessment under the watchful eyes of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team.
As TimesofIndia.com had reported earlier, Bumrah was named in India’s Champions Trophy squad last month but his participation in the multi-nation event depends on the outcome of the scans and assessment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) this week.
It is reliably understood that the 31-year-old will be there for at least two-three days and the NCA specialists will then submit their observations to the men’s senior selection committee chaired by Ajit Agarkar.
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During the press conference in Mumbai last month, Agarkar revealed that Bumrah was asked to “off-load for five weeks” after the Sydney Test and added that they would get clarity in “early February”.
“Bumrah has been told to off-load for five weeks after and he won’t be available for the first two ODIs against England. We are waiting on his fitness and will know his status in early February from the medical team. We’ll probably find out a bit more around that time, what exactly, and with regards to what his medical condition is, I’m sure BCCI might just put something out, from the physio itself,” Agarkar had said.
The selectors have little over a week to take a call on Bumrah as they would need to confirm the final 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy to the International Cricket Council (ICC). Harshit Rana, named in the squad for England ODIs, could come in should Bumrah not get the green light.
Rohit Sharma & Co. have already started preparations for the ICC event as they have a short camp in Nagpur before the three-ODI series versus England gets underway.
Men in Blue are then likely to leave for Dubai on February 15 and will camp there for the entire tournament. If they go all the way, even the semi-final involving India and the title clash will be played in Dubai.