Jasprit Bumrah could miss IPL 2023, WTC Final
Bumrah last played a professional game in September 2022 (iplt20.com)
If reports are to be believed, India's biggest match-winner and premier seam-bowler Jasprit Bumrah will miss the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and the upcoming World Test Championship Final (WTC).
As a report published in Cricbuzz, Bumrah's injury is more severe than expected, and the pace bowler could be out of action for at least five more months.
If the report is to be correct, then the pacer will not only miss the IPL and the WTC final, but his availability for the upcoming Asia Cup is also topsy-turvy.
Earlier in the month, some of the major media outlets outlined that the Mumbai Indians pacer, who wasn't named in India's ODI squad to take on Australia, will make his comeback in MI's first clash against Bangalore, which is within a month.
However, it is understood that the Indian team management is not looking to fast-track Bumrah. Instead, he will be cotton wooled for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, scheduled to be hosted in India in October-November this year.
The 29-year-old speedster, who last played for India in September 2022, had to miss the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup last year due to his incessant stress fracture.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the national selectors have been playing a game of cat and mouse involving the updates of their star seamer.
Last month, the Gujarat-born was named to the Indian squad for the Sri Lankan ODIs, before his name was omitted to give him more healing period. Later, it was touted that he would be playing the last two Tests and ODIs against Australia, the state of his injury is still unclear.
Mumbai's IPL campaign is scheduled to begin on April 2; however, their pre-season camp has yet to begin.
 "Arjun Bhalla")
