India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has encountered several significant injuries that have substantially affected his professional cricket career since 2018. His ability to bounce back from potentially career-ending injuries demonstrates his remarkable strength of character and unwavering commitment to the sport.
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How do you view Bumrah’s comeback after his 2018 injury struggles?
Bumrah’s injury struggles began on the first day of India’s three-month Ireland-England tour in 2018. He fractured his left thumb while attempting a return catch in a T20I against Ireland. The injury ruled him out of action for three weeks, forcing him to miss the white-ball leg of the tour and the first two Tests against England. However, Bumrah returned for the last three Tests, claiming 14 wickets, including a match-winning five-for at Trent Bridge, in India’s sole victory in a 1-4 series loss.
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In 2019, Bumrah suffered a lower-back stress fracture after a taxing tour of the West Indies, where he became the third Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick, following Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan. The injury sidelined him for three months, causing him to miss home series against South Africa and Bangladesh. He eventually made his comeback during the New Zealand tour in early 2020.
The setbacks continued in January 2021 when Bumrah picked up an abdominal strain while fielding during the third Test against Australia in Sydney. Precautionary measures ruled him out of the Brisbane Test, which India famously won to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Surprisingly, Bumrah recovered in less than a month and returned for the first Test against England in Chennai.
Though Bumrah made a strong comeback, recurring back issues resurfaced in August 2022, forcing him out of the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup in Australia. A rushed return for the home T20I series against Australia and South Africa aggravated the injury, leading to back surgery in early 2023. Bumrah missed major events, including IPL 2023 and the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. His injuries not only tested his resilience but also impacted India’s bowling depth in crucial tournaments.
Bumrah finally made a competitive return after undergoing four months of intensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Following an injury-enforced break of nearly 12 months, Bumrah marked his international comeback as captain in the T20I series against Ireland in 2023. And was back to his menacing best at the 2023 Asia Cup and ODI World Cup at home.
The 31-year-old Bumrah played a pivotal role in India’s triumph at their second T20 World Cup in 2024. Delivering consistent match-winning performances, Bumrah claimed 15 wickets across eight matches, including a crucial two-wicket haul against South Africa in the final. His ability to deliver under pressure earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award, cementing his status as one of the best bowlers in the world.
Bumrah, who led India to a famous 295-run victory against Australia in Perth on his Test captaincy debut, bowled an exhausting 151 overs during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, showcasing his brilliance. But the World No. 1 bowler’s relentless effort to lead the attack in a grueling contest against Aussies may have taken a toll on his body as he suffered with back spasms in the fifth and final Test at SCG. With the 2025 Champions Trophy set to begin on February 19, Bumrah’s fitness will be under close scrutiny as Team India aims to avoid losing their ace pacer to another extended injury spell. His well-being is crucial to the team’s plans for the upcoming high-stakes tournament.
TIMELINE OF INJURIES
2018 (Thumb Fracture)
- Fractured his left thumb while attempting a return catch in a T20I in Ireland.
2019 (Back Stress Fracture)
- Diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back in September 2019.
- Missed the home series against South Africa and Bangladesh.
- Returned in early 2020.
2021 (Abdominal Strain)
- Suffered a minor abdominal strain during the Test series in Australia in early 2021.
- Missed the fourth Test in Brisbane but recovered for subsequent series against England.
2022 (Recurring Back Injury)
- Recurrent back issues resurfaced in mid-2022.
- Missed the Asia Cup in August-September 2022.
- Rushed back for the T20I series against Australia but was ruled out of the T20 World Cup after aggravating his back injury.
2023 (Back Surgery and Rehab)
- Underwent back surgery in March 2023 in New Zealand.
- Missed IPL 2023, the World Test Championship Final, and most of the year’s cricketing action.
- Returned in August 2023 for the Ireland series, Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.
2025 (Back Spasm)
- Suffered back spasms during the fifth and final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney.
