"Hello friend, we meet again": Jasprit Bumrah hints at international cricket return

Jasprit Bumrah last played an international cricket match for India in September 2022 against Australia.

Indian fast bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah, who has been sidelined with an injury for several months, appears to be making an impressive comeback to the game. The 29-year-old pacer took to Instagram to share a picture of his cricket shoes, indicating his return to action. "Hello friend, we meet again"

Watch the post here:

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In April, Jasprit Bumrah underwent a successful lower back surgery in New Zealand, relieving him from the persistent pain he was experiencing.

"Jasprit Bumrah underwent surgery on his lower back in New Zealand which was successful and he remains pain-free. The fast bowler was advised by the specialist to start his rehab six weeks after the surgery and accordingly, Bumrah commenced his rehab management at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru from Friday," said a press release from BCCI on April 15.

Jasprit Bumrah sidelined due to back injury

Since September 2022, Jasprit Bumrah has been sidelined due to a back injury, causing him to miss the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 held in Australia. The talented fast bowler successfully underwent rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, and he has been observed practicing in the nets. However, the BCCI has decided to exercise caution and refrain from rushing his return to competitive action.

Jasprit Bumrah's absence from the Indian Premier League (2023), where he represents the Mumbai Indians, had a noticeable impact on their bowling attack. Despite the team reaching the playoffs, they often appeared vulnerable without Bumrah's presence on several occasions.

Unfortunately, Bumrah has been unable to join the team due to a recurring injury, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his return to the field with his unique bowling action. Since sustaining a back injury in August of the previous year, which ruled him out of the Asia Cup, he has made multiple attempts to make a comeback. Initially, the injury did not appear severe as he was included in India's T20 World Cup squad and even played in the last two T20 matches against Australia in September. However, three days later, Bumrah was unable to participate in the first T20 match against South Africa. It was discovered that he had undergone scans, which revealed a stress-related back injury. He was swiftly taken to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for further assessment, confirming the seriousness of the injury. Consequently, he was ruled out of the T20 World Cup, in which India reached the semifinals.

Bumrah's injury woes continue

After resuming his rehabilitation in November, Jasprit Bumrah began bowling again in mid-December. His progress appeared promising as he was included in the white-ball series against Sri Lanka, added to the squad more than a week after the initial selection. Bumrah had been participating in match simulation exercises at the NCA, but unfortunately, he experienced discomfort while undertaking more demanding fitness drills in January. Subsequent scans revealed the emergence of a new issue, leading to his exclusion from the Sri Lanka series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.