It's been three months since Jasprit Bumrah was taken from the parking lot at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the final Test to get his back checked out. We're still waiting for a full update on his fitness, and in the meantime, India's star fast bowler remains on the sidelines.

Bumrah made quite an impression during the Australian summer, giving rookie Aussie opener Sam Konstas a tough introduction to Test cricket and causing nightmares for Usman Khawaja with some of his best fast bowling performances. However, whether he can maintain that level throughout a lengthy Test series is uncertain.

India's next overseas challenge is a five-Test series in England starting June 20, but Bumrah's focus isn't on that just yet. Right now, he's in rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, hoping to get the green light to join the IPL with the Mumbai Indians. Inside sources from the BCCI indicate that he doesn't have a stress fracture, but they want to be cautious to prevent any further injury.

Having dealt with back issues throughout his own career, former Australian pace bowler Shane Watson suggests a careful approach for Bumrah.

"I faced ongoing back injuries during my career, and Jasprit has bowled a lot more than I ever did," Watson, who recently participated in the International Masters League, shared with HT. "Up until I was about 27, I pushed myself to bowl as much as possible, but my back didn't cope well with it. It's crucial for the Indian team management, including the captain, physios, medical staff, and coaches, to carefully manage Jasprit's workload to avoid overworking him."

Since his debut in South Africa in 2018, Bumrah has missed 35% of the Tests that India has played. His bowling style, which features a unique front-on action and a hyperextended elbow, has necessitated careful management of his workload to prevent strain on his body. This is particularly important given that his delivery method generates high-speed balls and tests batting techniques. Bumrah faced a stress fracture in his lower back in 2019, followed by another back issue in 2022, and most recently, he encountered another setback in January.

During the series against Australia, Bumrah played all five Tests for the first time, bowling a total of 151.2 overs. However, he had to withdraw from the Sydney Test after just 10 overs in the first innings.

Watson commented, "Moving forward, they need to be more cautious about how much he bowls, especially since he had a heavy workload during the Australian summer. Overuse can lead to injuries, and now he’s missing the Champions Trophy and the early part of the IPL. It’s uncertain if he’ll participate in the IPL at all. It’s better for him to bowl slightly less than to exceed his limits like he did in Australia."

In the fourth Test in Melbourne, India captain Rohit Sharma utilized Bumrah in short spells, but the lack of wicket-taking support throughout the series may have contributed to the overuse of this key bowler.

Watson added, "You learn to manage yourself by testing your limits and sometimes breaking them. If you never push your boundaries, you won’t know where they are. That’s what’s happened with Jasprit over the years. Now they understand his breaking point, so they need to be careful not to push it again. Nobody wants to see Jasprit sidelined; he’s truly exceptional and has superhuman abilities with the ball."

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