Team India may have faced a setback in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, concluding with a 1-3 defeat, yet Jasprit Bumrah's contributions throughout the series stood out as a significant positive for the team. His exceptional performances earned him the Player of the Series accolade, although his absence on the final day of the Test match due to injury is likely to be a lingering disappointment for him.

On what he described as the “spiciest” pitch of the series, Bumrah was compelled to leave the field after experiencing a back spasm on Day 2. His departure during the second innings left India without their leading fast bowler as they sought to defend a target of 162 runs, which Australia successfully chased down with six wickets in hand.

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, highlighted Bumrah's influence throughout the series, recounting an insightful discussion with star batsman Steve Smith. Smith, recognized for his precise technique against fast bowlers, acknowledged that Bumrah was "harder to pick" than most bowlers globally, emphasizing that the Indian pacer does not allow batters to settle into their innings.

“I had the opportunity to converse with the Australians about what makes it so challenging. I have been observing him for a long time; I captained him in the IPL when he first emerged as a 17-year-old. I spoke with Steve Smith, who has a solid approach to deciphering fast bowlers. He mentioned that he finds Bumrah's visual cues somewhat difficult to discern compared to others, and it may take four, five, or six deliveries,” Ponting shared with 7Cricket.

“Sometimes, you could be dismissed by then. If you haven't adjusted by that point while facing Bumrah on a demanding surface, your innings could end rather swiftly.”

Bumrah concluded the Test series with a remarkable tally of 32 wickets, marking the highest by an Indian pacer in a series in Australia.

Bumrah to return in Champions Trophy?

The precise nature of Bumrah's injury remains unclear, and it is anticipated that the Indian fast bowler will be sidelined for the entirety of January. India is scheduled to host England for three One Day Internationals and an equal number of T20 Internationals this month, and it appears that Bumrah will not participate in this bilateral series.

It is uncertain whether Bumrah will recover in time to compete in the Champions Trophy, which is set to occur next month. Although Pakistan is the host nation for the tournament, India will conduct all of their matches in Dubai.

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