A major setback for India ahead of their Test series against Sri Lanka, as star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has failed to recover from his knee injury and has been ruled out of the two-match series in August.
Bumrah last bowled on July 16 during the ODI series against England. The right-arm pacer has not resumed bowling practice in the last two weeks and was also rested for the third ODI of the series. He returned home afterwards and received an injection for his knee issue.
The Indian pacer then underwent a fitness assessment at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. After reviewing the results, the medical team advised against rushing him back into bowling, warning that an early return could increase the risk of a long-term injury. As a result, Bumrah was left out of India’s squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka.
The exact nature and extent of Bumrah’s injury remain unclear. However, his absence has undoubtedly left India in a difficult position, especially with other key players such as Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy also sidelined due to injuries.
Washington Sundar is also set to miss the first Test against Sri Lanka after suffering a hamstring injury, while Akash Deep is yet to recover from a back issue. A growing injury list has raised concerns within the Indian camp.
Injuries have become a recurring issue for India, with players picking up fitness problems after almost every series. Some cricketers have even been playing matches without being at full fitness.
India captain Shubman Gill has expressed concerns that if this trend continues, it could affect the team’s preparations and performance in the 2027 World Cup. He has also stressed the need to improve players’ overall fitness levels.
