Jasprit Bumrah’s back injury, which has reoccurred in the same spot where he underwent surgery, is raising serious concerns. Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, whose career was cut short due to chronic back issues, has warned that this could potentially be a "career-ender" for Bumrah.
Bumrah has not played since the last day of the New Year's Test in Sydney this year when he left the field for scans. Initially, it was reported as back spasms, but later, it was revealed to be a stress-related injury, which led to him missing the Champions Trophy.
Currently, Bumrah is in rehab at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, but there’s no clarity on when he will be fully fit or if he’ll be ready to start for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025.
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This marks the first time Bumrah has faced a back issue since his surgery in March 2023. Bond, who has worked closely with Bumrah in the past as the Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach, and is now with Rajasthan Royals, emphasized that Bumrah’s workload must be carefully managed to prevent further setbacks.
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"When Bumrah went off for scans in Sydney, there was some messaging that it was a sprain, but I suspected it could be a bony issue in his back," Bond told ESPNcricinfo during the Champions Trophy. "I was concerned he might struggle to make the Champions Trophy if it was as serious as I feared."
Bond, who was one of the first fast bowlers of this century to undergo back surgery at 29 (the same age as Bumrah when he had his surgery), knows firsthand how tough it is to manage chronic back injuries. Despite enduring frequent setbacks, Bond continued his career until the age of 34, retiring from Tests first, then all formats within six months. In a 2010 interview with ESPNcricinfo, he admitted, “I broke if I played a few games on the bounce in first-class cricket. I was tired of doing rehab.”
"Booms will be fine, but managing his workload is crucial," Bond said. "Looking ahead at the schedule, it's important to identify the right moments to rest him, and the key danger periods are usually during the transition from IPL to the Test series."
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Jasprit Bumrah's IPL 2025 Availability in Doubt Due to Setback in Recovery
Jasprit Bumrah, who is currently in rehab, might miss the first two weeks of the IPL due to a slight setback in his recovery. Bumrah, who was expected to be declared fit by the NCA before Mumbai Indians first match of the IPL, is experiencing a delay in his recovery progress. As a result, the NCA may conduct another test to assess his fitness before officially declaring him fit for IPL 2025.
