Former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming has questioned Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness ahead of the Brisbane Test against Australia. Bumrah pulled up his abductor muscle while bowling in the first innings of the pink-ball Test match against Australia at Adelaide.
After receiving first-aid from the physio, Bumrah resumed his bowling but bowled around the 130 kmph mark. Interestingly, Bumrah bowled a solitary over in the second innings despite taking rest during India’s batting innings and he bowled below the 130 kmph mark.
Rohit Sharma gave the third over of the innings to all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, which raised doubts on Bumrah’s fitness. Fleming feels Bumrah’s injury is more than just a cramp and the Indian team is hiding his injury.
“There’s got to be some serious doubts. Siraj might be workload [related] but I’m bemused Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hid this. They showed their hand,” Fleming said on SEN Radio after the second Test.
“There’s no way that’s cramp. He was very ginger after the break in the first innings. He bowled again, not quite as slow second innings. I don’t even know why he bowled that over [in the second innings]. That actually gave some secrets away to everyone,” he added.
On the other hand, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel revealed that Bumrah suffered a cramp while bowling in the first innings, and it is not anything serious.
“Firstly with Bumrah, he’s fine, it was just this cramp. Yeah, even because after that, you know, he bowled and you got the wickets twice,” said Morkel in the post-match press conference.
Jasprit Bumrah has picked 12 wickets in the two Test matches of the series against Australia at an unbelievable average of 11.25 and his presence is absolutely essential for India’s chance.
The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.
