India’s lead fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England due to a knee injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed. While it was initially believed that his absence was part of a workload management strategy, multiple reports have now revealed that Bumrah is dealing with a fitness concern.
Bumrah featured in three of the five Tests on the England tour, playing the first, third, and fourth matches. He delivered strong performances overall, taking 14 wickets across those matches, including two five-wicket hauls. However, he seemed to struggle during the fourth Test at Old Trafford, showing signs of fatigue and a drop in his regular pace and accuracy.
The BCCI clarifies that Bumrah’s injury is not serious and will not require surgery. A senior official said the medical team is currently awaiting his scan reports and will monitor his progress closely. Bumrah is expected to begin his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence(CoE) in Bengaluru.
The injury setback comes at a critical time for Team India, with important tournaments lined up. The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to begin in early September, followed closely by a two-match Test series against the West Indies. With a packed calendar ahead, including the T20 World Cup next year, the management is likely to be cautious in bringing Bumrah back too soon.
Old Injuries and Bumrah
Bunrah, 31, has faced injury issues in the past, including a back spasm that ruled him out of the Champions Trophy earlier this year. As a result, the team has been handling his workload carefully. Despite talks earlier about him leading the Indian team in Tests after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Bumrah himself has asked not to be considered for a leadership role, citing his limited availability during the longer format.
For now, it remains uncertain whether Bumrah will be fit in time for the Asia Cup. The decision may ultimately come down to choosing between red-ball commitments or white-ball tournaments. The Indian team will likely prioritize his long-term fitness over short-term appearances.
