Mumbai: Jasprit Bumrah is making progress in his recovery from back spasms that he suffered during the second innings of the Sydney Test in early January. According to reports, the fast bowler has returned to the nets at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and is gradually ramping up his bowling workload under the supervision of the BCCI’s fitness specialists.

The national selectors find themselves in a difficult position, weighing the advantages of Bumrah's exceptional abilities for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which commences on February 19, against the necessity of ensuring his long-term health. The Indian management is deliberating whether to include the pacer in the final squad for the Champions Trophy without having assessed his back in a competitive setting. The deadline for finalizing the squads is Tuesday at midnight, after which any replacement player would need approval from the ICC technical team.

Bumrah has resumed bowling following scans on his back conducted in Bengaluru. He has been gradually increasing his bowling intensity, starting with two overs, then progressing to three, and now four. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be fit in time, and there is an opportunity to evaluate him in a practice match in Bengaluru before the Indian team departs for Dubai on February 15.

Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee had included Bumrah in the provisional squad, with the chief selector indicating that the fast bowler was advised to "off-load for five weeks," rendering him unavailable for the initial two ODIs against England. It now appears increasingly likely that Bumrah will also be absent for the third ODI scheduled for Wednesday.

Should Bumrah miss the early stages of the Champions Trophy, this decision would not be unprecedented. Australia had previously included Travis Head in their 2023 ODI World Cup squad while he was recuperating from a broken hand. The left-handed opener participated in the tournament after missing the first three matches and made significant contributions to Australia’s success, including in the final.

Given Bumrah's history of back injuries common among fast bowlers, the risk is notably elevated. A careful assessment will be necessary. Fresh discussions involving the Indian team management, Agarkar, and the BCCI medical team are anticipated on Tuesday. If the risk is deemed too great, Harshit Rana, who has proven to be a capable alternative, may be selected. Harshit has shown a commendable performance against England, taking four wickets across two matches thus far.

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