Jasprit Bumrah's Fitness for Sri Lanka Test Series Uncertain

NEW DELHI: The Indian team management is likely to play the waiting game with seamer Jasprit Bumrah for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15 in Galle. TimesofIndia.com has learnt that while nothing serious is wrong with his left knee, the stakeholders are in no mood to rush the fast bowler for the crucial fixtures. He has already completed body conditioning sessions at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) since checking in on Thursday and will start bowling Saturday onwards. He is expected to increase the intensity of his training in the coming days. The 32-year-old was picked in the Shubman Gill-led squad for the series, but subject to fitness clearance. Bumrah missed the third ODI against England at Lord's due to an "impact injury" to his left knee but looked very sharp in the two fixtures he did play. It is reliably learnt that he was scheduled to receive an injection for a knee-related issue which had flared up during the business end of the T20 World Cup. Since then the knee was being handled with care during the IPL, and forced him to spend some time at the CoE before the T20 competition got underway. The BCCI medical team is understood to be aware of the sequence of events, the injection and the necessary recovery period. "Selectors were thoroughly briefed. Bumrah was advised an injection by the BCCI medical team and had to rest for the following 8-10 days. The moment that period was over, he reached the CoE for assessment. He is yet to start bowling and the management will be given a better idea in the coming days," said a source tracking developments. As things stand, he is extremely unlikely to join the rest of the squad in Mumbai on August 3, for the scheduled August 4 departure, and a late call is expected regarding his travel to Sri Lanka. It wouldn't be a surprise if he directly links up with the squad in Galle ahead of the series opener. The management will make the final call depending on his progress in the next few days. "It is too early to make that call. He will start bowling from Saturday, and the picture will become much clearer when he bowls full throttle. See it's not a batter we are dealing with. So, the assessment and other protocols are different.

And with Bumrah, what's the need to take any chance? There are still 15 days for the Test. "So, fingers crossed," adds the source. India are scheduled to play a four-day practice match in Colombo from August 7 before assembling in Galle for the series opener from August 15. To keep their World Test Championship Final hopes alive, the Shubman Gill-led unit need to whitewash Sri Lanka 2-0.