Former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming has raised concerns about Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness. He suggested that Bumrah might be dealing with more than just a cramp after his performance in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Adelaide Oval.
Fleming, speaking on SEN Radio, said, “This doesn’t look like just cramp. Bumrah was moving with difficulty after the break in the first innings. He bowled again, but his pace was slower in the second innings. I don’t even understand why he bowled that over. It gave away too much information about his condition.”
During Australia’s first innings in the pink-ball Test, Bumrah required medical attention. Although he continued to bowl a few more overs and even opened the bowling in the second innings, his pace dropped significantly. He bowled at around 130 km/h, much slower than his usual speed, raising questions about his physical state.
Adding to the concerns, Bumrah did not attend India’s practice sessions after the match, further fueling speculation about his fitness for the upcoming games.
The second Test was a day-night match and ended in just over two days, with Australia chasing an 18-run target in 3.2 overs. Fleming criticized the decision to make Bumrah bowl in such a situation, stating, “Siraj might have been rested due to workload, but I’m surprised Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hidden this issue, but now everyone knows.”
Indian captain Rohit Sharma, however, downplayed the worries about Bumrah’s fitness. Speaking to the media after the match, he highlighted the importance of managing bowlers during a long five-Test series. “We want Bumrah to be fresh and ready for all five matches. Managing workload is crucial,” Rohit said.
With an unexpected break before the third Test in Brisbane due to the early finish of the Adelaide match, Bumrah now has some time to recover and get ready for the challenges ahead.
