Jasprit Bumrah bowling seven overs a day at NCA nets

IMAGE: Jasprit Bumrah had undergone surgery for a recurring back niggle in New Zealand in March. Photograph: BCCI

When is Jasprit Bumrah returning to the Indian team? Neither the injured pacer nor the ones working on him have a definitive answer to that.

But the good news is that Bumrah has bowled seven overs in a day at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) nets, a development that will bring smile to the Indian fans looking forward to the 2023 World Cup with optimism. The schedule for the mega event was released in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The fast bowler had undergone surgery for a recurring back niggle in New Zealand in March and since then he has been on the recovery path.

Bumrah last played for India during the home T20Is against Australia in September, 2022.

So, will he be able to make a comeback during the T20I series against Ireland or in the Asia Cup?

"For an injury of this nature, it is not wise to set any timeline as constant monitoring is necessary. But it can be said that Bumrah is recovering well and he has bowled seven overs at NCA nets. It is a steady increase in his workload from the light workouts and bowling sessions of the initial period.

"He will play a few practice matches (at NCA) next month, and there will be a close assessment of his fitness then," a source told PTI.

Ramji Srinivasan, former strength and conditioning coach of Team India, said extreme care should be taken while bringing back Bumrah.

"He should not be hurried. Playing practice matches at the NCA is a good step as it will help tune his body to the demands of a match. But he should be made to play in some actual (domestic) matches before bringing him to top level cricket.

"The demands of international cricket are different and the body should be absolutely ready to take that amount of workload. Recovering from stress fracture is a delicate exercise and Bumrah should be allowed maximum recovery time," Ramji told PTI.

K L Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who have also been recuperating at NCA, are also progressing as expected, though no specific timeline has been set for their return as well.

Rahul had undergone a thigh surgery in London, while Shreyas too went under the knife in London after being troubled by a bulging disc on his lower back.