Jasprit Bumrah has been sidelined from competitive play since January of this year, and it appears that fans may have to wait a bit longer for his return. A report from  indicates that the prominent Indian fast bowler is expected to miss the early stages of the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).

Currently, Bumrah is undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, and it is anticipated that he will not be available for the Mumbai Indians until April.

According to a BCCI source cited by the newspaper, "Bumrah's medical reports are satisfactory. He has resumed bowling at the CoE. However, it is improbable that he will be able to bowl at the beginning of the IPL in the next fortnight. Based on the current situation, the first week of April appears to be a more feasible timeframe for his return to high-intensity cricket."

With the Mumbai Indians set to compete in four matches during the initial two weeks of the tournament, Bumrah's absence may significantly affect the team's bowling lineup. At this point, the fast bowler has not yet commenced bowling at full intensity, as the medical team is carefully monitoring his workload.

The source further explained, "This is standard operating procedure. The medical team will incrementally increase his workload and intensity. Unless he can bowl at full capacity without experiencing any discomfort for several days, the medical team is unlikely to give him clearance."

Preparation for England Tests

The BCCI is diligently overseeing his rehabilitation to guarantee his availability for the pivotal five-Test series in England, which is scheduled to commence immediately following the IPL. The selectors are cautious about depending exclusively on Bumrah and Mohammed Shami for the challenging tour of England, considering their previous injury records.

"The endurance of Shami and Bumrah throughout the lengthy IPL season will be crucial. Shami is under continuous observation. Ideally, the selectors would like to have both players available for two to three Tests. The team management will also exercise caution to avoid overburdening them by having them play all Tests together. There is a strong desire to prevent a recurrence of the situation that occurred with Bumrah in Sydney, where excessive reliance on him was evident," the source added.

Should any fitness issues arise, India has a contingent of fast bowlers ready for selection. Mohammed Siraj is anticipated to maintain his position in the Test squad, while Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar are also in consideration.

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