Ravi Ashwin drops major hint about Jasprit Bumrah’s chances of playing in Cricket World Cup 2023

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been out of the action since September 2022.

India spinner and 2011 World Cup winner Ravi Ashwin has given a major hint about pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s chances of playing in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 tournament which will be played in India in October-November this year.

Jasprit Bumrah has been out of action since July 2022, except for two T20Is against Australia in September 2022. Bumrah suffered a lower back stress fracture during the tour of England and was rushed back for the Australia series in hopes of him getting fit for the T20 World Cup that year.

However, he had to undergo back surgery in New Zealand in March, after having missed the T20 World Cup 2022. While there were hopes of him coming back to the Indian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, it was later revealed that he wasn’t ready for the rigors of international cricket.

Since then, there have been murmurs of BCCI and team management not wanting to rush him back in international cricket given how important he is for India in the coming World Cup 2023.

Last week, it was reported that Jasprit Bumrah's rehab at the National Cricket Academy after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in the back was going as per schedule as he could be back in action as soon as the Ireland T20Is in August.

Two days later, news emerged that Bumrah was bowling 7 overs a day at the NCA and is lined up to play a few practice games even though his comeback was far off.

We are expecting Jasprit Bumrah to be fit - Ravichandran Ashwin

But then, more good news came that Bumrah is healthy and ready to play in the Asia Cup in September.

Ashwin mentioned Bumrah as the single largest positive development while discussing the World Cup 2023 schedule that was revealed on Tuesday and forecasting what to expect from India's games against other opponents.

Speaking of India vs. Pakistan game, Ashwin's Bumrah spoiler would undoubtedly be music to every Indian cricket fan's ears. The game is slated to take place at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.

"The last few games between India and Pakistan in the ICC events have been extraordinary, to say the least. I think we can expect another blockbuster India-Pakistan game. It's going to be a very equally-balanced game because Pakistan also has a quality seam attack. For India, obviously, we expect Bumrah, maybe even Prasidh… all these guys to be fit. I don't know what the combination is going to look like but all in all, a great contest on hand,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Bumrah missed the two Asia Cup matches and the one T20 World Cup match he was slated to play in between India and Pakistan last year, but he will undoubtedly play in the three IND-PAK games this year if he stays healthy.