Jasprit Bumrah expresses readiness for the World Cup: ‘Never thought it was all over’
During Wednesday’s match, the 29-year-old cricketer, who has been battling a persistent back injury, displayed no signs of discomfort in his bowling technique. Moreover, there was no noticeable decrease in his pace as he delivered each ball.
After a hiatus of 327 days, marked by numerous hours on the surgeon’s table, in rehab booths, and practicing in the nets, Jasprit Bumrah returned to competitive cricket. Despite his lengthy absence from the game, he exuded a sense of composure and ease. Not a trace of nervousness or excessive excitement marred his demeanor as he captained India in the first match of their three-match T20I series against Ireland on Friday.
Even during the period of unemployment, he felt a longing for cricket but never allowed negative thoughts to creep in. “I never considered it as the end or a difficult phase,” he states calmly, emphasizing his focus on finding solutions to the challenges at hand.
Rather than being consumed by worry and doubt over his injury and whether he would regain his previous level of fitness, he focused on the recovery process. He admits that waiting for injuries to heal can be frustrating, but instead of succumbing to self-doubt, his mindset was centered around finding ways to expedite the healing process and make a successful comeback.
Taking a break from cricket allowed him to find mental rejuvenation and relieve the pressures of competitive play. For the first time in about 10 or 11 years, he spent his summer at home, appreciating it as an off-season period where he could spend quality time with his family. While missing out on important tournaments can be disappointing, he emphasizes the importance of accepting this lack of control and respecting one’s body when it requires time for recovery.
Returning too quickly from an injury can have serious consequences for fast bowlers. Numerous cautionary tales exist of players who rushed their comeback, only to suffer further breakdowns. A notable example is Jofra Archer, the English pace bowler, whose premature return to international cricket in South Africa and the IPL led to overexertion and re-injury, almost jeopardizing his participation in England’s World Cup defense.
Considering Bumrah’s crucial role in the team as a near-indispensable talent, it would have been tempting to rush him back into marquee tournaments as they had attempted before the T20 World Cup in Australia last year. However, since then, there has been no hurried push to reintegrate him into international cricket, even if it meant he had to sit out of the Indian Premier League or the preceding Test series against Australia. The priority was ensuring that he regained his peak match-fitness just in time for the World Cup.
This means that Bumrah will have to make the most out of three T20 games and the Asia Cup, in which he could play a maximum of six matches. However, Bumrah has been focusing on the World Cup while recovering from his injury. He explains, “We were aware that there would be no Test cricket until the ODI World Cup. Even during my rehabilitation, I was not preparing for just a T20 game.
I always had my sights set on the World Cup competition. In my training sessions, I have been bowling 10, 12, and even 15 overs at a time. So I have bowled more overs to build up my fitness knowing that fewer overs will be required in match situations. We kept in mind that we are preparing for a one-day competition rather than just a four-over contest. I have already bowled many overs and feel prepared.”
In addition to practicing at the nets and playing practice matches with the NCA, he has also been training with the Gujarat team. “I am bowling normally, without holding anything back,” he clarifies. “After my rehabilitation was complete, I went home and even practiced with the Gujarat team. I have had numerous net sessions and played a few practice matches too. So there are no restrictions or limitations, and I am not holding anything back.”
As a result, he believes he has regained enough rhythm but acknowledges the need to continue bowling more to reach his peak performance before the World Cup. “You have to keep working your way up,” he explains, acknowledging that there is still progress to be made from where he left off.
A recently released video footage of a two-ball nets session has reassured fans and the cricket community about the imposing skills and abilities of a certain player. In one instance, he delivered an incredibly challenging bouncer that left Ruturaj Gaikwad grappling with its fierce bounce, managing to keep it away awkwardly.
In the other occurrence, he executed a scorching toe-crusher which Yashasvi Jaiswal expertly dealt with by jamming his bat down at the last possible moment. The 14-second clip brought immense relief and comfort to Indian cricket enthusiasts who count him among their most formidable and dependable assets in both national and international matches. His proficiency with both new and old balls makes him a true game-changer, capable of making an impact at any point during a match, whether it’s at the beginning, middle, or towards the end.
Fans rue his absence during events like the T20 World Cup and World Test Championship where his contributions were sorely missed. However, securing victory in the upcoming World Cup on home soil remains the ultimate prize that every fan is eagerly anticipating.
