Jasprit Bumrah bowling at full-throttle, expected to return for Ireland tour next month

Jasprit Bumrah who could shape Team India’s campaign at the upcoming 50-over World Cup, is close to regaining full-fitness and is in line to tour with the Indian white-ball team for the T20Is in Ireland next month. The pacer, who is currently training at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, has been gradually increasing his workload and so is Shreyas Iyer, who has resumed batting.
Bumrah, who underwent a back surgery in March, had resumed bowling last month after successfully undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA. His rehab programme has been continuing under the watchful eyes of BCCI’s head of cricket VVS Laxman, and he is bowling full throttle at the nets, where he is sending down 8-10 overs.
While the selectors and the team management were looking to include Bumrah for the Asia Cup in September, the progression he has made in the last couple of weeks means he could travel to Ireland next month with a second-string India team. It is understood that a decision on this would be taken in the coming days.
With no competitive cricket behind his back since last September, and given the nature of injury he suffered, he is being handled with extra care. It is learnt that Bumrah isn’t showing any discomfort at the nets, where he is training on a daily basis. There are indications that Bumrah could even play a few practice matches at the NCA, where camps are underway.

Prasidh Krishna, who underwent surgery for a lumbar stress fracture is understood to be recovering well and has resumed bowling. The 27-year-old like Bumrah missed the IPL with injury and last featured in a competitive match in August 2022 in Zimbabwe. Since then he has been battling a stress fracture, which ended up with him undergoing surgery. Although there were concerns if he could be fit in time for the World Cup, Prasidh has now resumed bowling on a regular basis. Although he is not a certainty for the Ireland tour next month, he is in line to feature in the Asia Cup, which could boost India further.
Ever since he broke into the Indian team, Prasidh has made a telling impact in the middle-overs with his pace. With opposition teams targeting the second powerplay, Prasidh’s addition would be a definite boost to India and could also alter their combination at the World Cup. A strike-bowler, his pace in the middle-overs is seen as a value addition as his skiddy deliveries to go with the ones that can climb awkwardly because of his action, have been hard to score off.

Shreyas resumes batting
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, another mainstay in the XI, who underwent surgery for a recurring back injury has also resumed batting after completing his rehab. The middle-order batsman missed the IPL after picking up the injury during the Tests against Australia last February-March. Iyer, like Bumrah, could travel to Ireland.