As Bumrah misses the start of IPL 2025, Shane Bond and BCCI officials raise concerns over his injury management following an intense Test workload in Australia.
March 31, 2025: India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah remains absent from IPL 2025 as concerns over his back injury escalate — with reports suggesting he’s on the “borderline of a fracture.”
Despite two rounds of IPL matches already completed, there is still no official word on when Bumrah will return to action for Mumbai Indians. The 31-year-old last played during India’s tour of Australia in January 2025, where an intense workload across the five-Test series took a visible toll on his body.
According to former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond — who previously worked closely with Bumrah at Mumbai Indians and is now part of Rajasthan Royals’ setup — the fast bowler’s current injury is not yet a confirmed fracture but dangerously close.
“It hasn’t cracked, he hasn’t got a fracture — he is on the borderline of a fracture,” Bond said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. “At the end of the day, he just bowled too much over a one-month period in Australia.”
Bumrah reportedly bowled 151.2 overs across the five Tests — including matches where he delivered as many as 50 overs — putting immense strain on his recovering body after his 2023 back surgery.
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Bond emphasized the need for better load management and rotation, especially with crucial fixtures on the horizon, including a five-Test series in England starting June and major ICC tournaments later this year.
“You can’t do that again,” Bond warned. “If India try the same approach in England, they’ll likely get the same result — another injury. Bumrah is too valuable to risk like that.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly taking these concerns seriously, sending an internal message that “You can’t do that” — a warning against overburdening Bumrah or risking long-term damage.
Bumrah had earlier undergone a long rehab process after his 2023 back surgery and was eased back into the Indian side. However, the extended workload in Australia appears to have pushed him close to breaking point again.
“All you’re trying to do is prevent the really bad injuries,” Bond said. “He’s a professional, does everything right, but the volume of overs in Australia was just too much.”
With the Indian Test squad scheduled to fly to England in June and the T20 World Cup looming, Bumrah’s fitness will remain under close watch. As of now, his return to the IPL remains uncertain.
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