Jasprit Bumrah is all geared up for the crucial match as the management has decided to introduce him to the playing XI for the second T20I against Australia.
The Indian right-arm pacer has been out of action since July 14, when he was involved in the ODI against England. After being back for the T20 World Cup, it was surprising to see that he was benched in the 1st T20 at Mohali on Tuesday (September 20).
His absence has hurt India but the 28-year-old worked enough hard to get himself back in action for the last two months.
But it is also understood that there were no serious concerns regarding Bumrah’s exclusion as he was only being left out because the team management does not want to rush him into the action straight away after the injury.
But now, the trump card of India is all set to be back in action from the second T20I at Nagpur.
“The team management did not want to rush him and that is the reason for his absence in the Mohali game,”
said a source in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), well conversant with the development.
“He has been bowling full blast at the nets and he is ready for action,”
the source further said. There were no nets at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday as it was a travel day for the side. Should Bumrah be in the XI, Umesh Yadav may have to make a way even though the Nagpur stadium is his home ground.
Hardik Pandya threw some light into the team’s thinking and approach towards Bumrah.
“We all know what he brings to the side and how important he is for us. There will be concerns here and there, which is fine. We got to trust our boys, whoever gets the opportunities. These are the best 15 people you have in the country and that is why they are there in the squad.
“So Jasprit not being there obviously makes a big difference. Even if he is not there, (and as) he is coming back after an injury, he needs to get enough time to kind of come back. Maybe (he should) not put pressure on himself in whichever game he comes back and plays,”
said the India all-rounder after the first game in Mohali, where India failed to defend a sizable total of 208.
Australia is currently leading the three-match T20I series by 1-0.