Jasprit Bumrah’s Career On The Brink: The Brutal Truth On His Ticking Spine And BCCI’s Gamble

Curious case behind Jasprit Bumrah's recurring back injury [Source: Getty]

Jasprit Bumrah is undisputedly one of the greatest Indian fast bowlers of the modern era. From attaining fame by deceiving Virat Kohli on his IPL debut to becoming team India’s crisis man across all formats, Bumrah is on a path to carve out an esteemed legacy in Indian cricket.

However, his journey toward greatness is being seriously threatened by a persistent and dangerous foe, his fragile lower back.

The Injury Timeline: A Recurring Nightmare

Jasprit Bumrah inspected for injury [Source: AFP]

The first domino fell in 2019 when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back during routine scans. Without any delay, BCCI flew him to the UK for a 3-month-long rehabilitation.

In 2022, the speedster went down again with a back spasm. He pulled every trick in the book to avoid surgery and even returned briefly for a T20I series against Australia. However, delaying the inevitable wasn’t a wise choice, as Bumrah eventually underwent back surgery in New Zealand in early 2023.

It took him 11 months to recover only to fall prey to another back spasm during the last Test of the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy. This time, Bumrah averted risks and rehabilitated for 3 months. But why is he so susceptible to injuries compared to his global counterparts?

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Reason No.1 - Bumrah’s Action Is His Blessing And Curse

Jasprit Bumrah's famous action [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]

When Jasprit Bumrah first broke out onto the scene, the fans were mesmerised and batters were haunted by his unorthodox bowling action. However, his unusual action is not only his biggest blessing but also a curse.

A biomechanics expert called Dr. Rene Ferdinands spoke to ‘The Business Standard’ and explained that contrary to the usual side-on or mixed bowling action seen among the majority of pacers, Bumrah adapted a front-on action. He uses his shoulders and back to generate pace with short run-ups, leading to unusual body alignment, which creates an S-shaped curve in his spine during delivery. 

This movement involves rapid lateral bending, rotation, and high ground reaction force, making his lumbar spine (located in the lower back) highly vulnerable to stress fractures. Not only that, but his bowling arm also moves beyond vertical, adding further pressure on his spine. While his action delivers speed and effectiveness, it's biomechanically risky in the long run, says Ferdinands.

Reason No. 2 - Gross Negligence In Workload Management

Jasprit Bumrah in Australia [Source: @JohnyBravo183/X.com]

Apart from biomechanics, BCCI deserves a fair share of blame for their negligence in managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload. In 2022, then-chief selector Chetan Sharma famously admitted that the BCCI rushed Bumrah’s rehab to make him fit for the T20 World Cup. That led to worsening of back spasm, and the pacer was forced to opt for surgery, costing 11 months of cricket action.

Turns out, Indian management didn’t learn a lesson. During the Melbourne Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, an exhausted Bumrah appealed to Rohit Sharma for mercy, saying, ‘Bas ab. Nhi lag rha zor.’ In the very next Test at Sydney, the pacer’s back injury relapsed, ruling him out for 3 months.

Since 2024, Bumrah has bowled over 410 overs in Test cricket, the most by any active fast bowler in world cricket. Most recently, out of the 182.4 overs bowled in the Headingley Test against England in 2025, Bumrah accounted for 43.4 overs, a staggering workload for a fast bowler with a history of back injuries. This concerning trend could indeed lead to a disastrous outcome for Team India.

Jasprit Bumrah’s Career At Heavy Risk

During IPL 2025, Mumbai Indians’ coach Shane Bond, who struggled with chronic back issues throughout his career, fired a warning, saying another significant stress injury in the lower back could potentially end Jasprit Bumrah’s career.

He argued that a quick physical transition from T20 to the Test format must be handled carefully, which is unlikely the case for Bumrah. And at this stage of his career, it's nearly impossible to tweak his action due to the risk of reduced efficiency. 

While his assessment may appear far-fetched, the signs are not very promising either. The excessive workload piled up on him due to overdependence is leading to wear and tear of his lower back every 2 years. For a fast bowler, lumbar injury is a recipe for disaster. Bumrah, having survived one, might be unable to recover from a similar setback again also because further surgery in the same spot is not advisable.

Can India Save Jasprit Bumrah - The Kohinoor Gem?

Bumrah's fifer in Lord's [Source: @drivexpull/X.com]

Jasprit Bumrah’s stature in Indian cricket is nothing short of a ‘Kohinoor Diamond.’ But the question is can India avert a catastrophic end to a legendary career? 

Yes.

First things first, workload management. While India has taken that route, the present plan is not the wisest one. Instead of sidelining him during long tours in SENA countries, rest him in home series or less competitive bilateral tours. Back injury concerns do not hide the fact that Bumrah is one of India’s most lethal weapons overseas. Hence, better plans can be curated to ensure his services are rightly used.

Next, reduce overdependence. While Jasprit Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation talent, India must upscale the domestic circuit to unearth more fast-bowling gems. Replace road pitches with a greener surface in the Ranji Trophy and let fast bowlers thrive in the right environment.

Keeping emotions aside, Bumrah must prioritise formats. At 31, he isn’t getting any younger, and one has to come to terms with the harsh truth that his body is just unable to handle the workload of all three formats. 

In a nutshell, Jasprit Bumrah’s career is hanging by a thread. His lower back remains a ticking time bomb, and without informed intervention, India risks losing one of its greatest-ever fast bowlers prematurely. Now more than ever, the BCCI, the selectors, and the team management must act wisely to preserve not just a player but a national asset.

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