In what will come as a huge relief for Indian cricket fans, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, has undergone surgery on his lower back in New Zealand and joined the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, to embark on his post-surgery rehabilitation plan. Bumrah started his rehab at the NCA on Friday (April 14) and is on track to return to the field before the 2023 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India in October-November.
Shreyas Iyer, key middle-order batter, is scheduled to undergo lower-back surgery next week. Iyer will remain under surgeon’s care for two weeks before returning to the NCA for rehabilitation management.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted an update on Bumrah and Iyer on Saturday. “Mr Jasprit Bumrah underwent surgery in New Zealand on his lower back, which was successful and he remains pain-free,” said Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, in a statement. “The fast bowler was advised by the specialist to start his rehab six weeks after the surgery and accordingly, Mr Bumrah has commenced his rehab management at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru from Friday.
“Mr Shreyas Iyer is scheduled to undergo surgery for his lower back issue next week. He will remain under the surgeon’s care for two weeks and will return to the NCA after that for rehabilitation.”
Bumrah missed the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup in 2022, and was ruled out of the IPL 2023 season following a recurrence of the back injury. The Mumbai Indians (MI) pacer is missing an entire IPL season for the first time since his debut in the 2013 edition. Iyer was ruled out of both IPL 2023 and the World Test Championship Final in June, after a disc-related back injury.