Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Will Jasprit Bumrah play in the 2nd T20 against Australia? | Update on whether Jasprit Bumrah will play in 2nd T20I vs Australia

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is set to be drafted into the playing XI for the second T20I vs Australia in Nagpur on Friday. 

Bumrah has been recovering from a back injury over the last two months and was hence sidelined from the Asia Cup too. However, he was included in the squad for the ongoing series against Australia, leading to conjecture that he has recuperate completely. 

Surprisingly though, Bumrah sat out of the first T20I against the visitors in Mohali on Tuesday. Now, it has emerged that the team management had decided against rushing the pacer back into action straightaway after his long injury layoff. 

However, he will be back in the XI for the second game as India will look to fight back after facing a loss in the opening game of the series. 

Jasprit Bumrah set to play 2nd T20I against Australia in Nagpur

“The team management did not want to rush him and that is the reason for his absence in the Mohali game,” a source in the know of developments was quoted in a report by Cricbuzz. 

He added, “He has been bowling full blast at the nets and he is ready for action.”

Bumrah will reportedly replace Umesh Yadav in the playing XI in the second match in Nagpur. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who struck a swashbuckling 71* in the first T20I, also opened up on Bumrah’s importance to the side in one of the interactions. 

According to the aforementioned website, Pandya reiterated trust in the squad and asserted that these are the ‘best 15 people you have in the country and that is why they are there in the squad.’

“So Jasprit not being there obviously makes a big difference. Even if he is not there, (and as) he is coming back after an injury, it is important for him to get enough time to kind of come back. Maybe (he should) not put pressure on himself in whichever game he comes back and plays,” the Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper further opened up on the issue. 

The Rohit Sharma-led side will be edging to stage a comeback as their form has come under scanner post the early exit from the Asia Cup as well. Bumrah’s return has been highly-anticipated as the current set of bowlers have struggled in the death during the recent past. 

The final couple of T20Is of this series will be played in Nagpur and Hyderabad on Friday and Sunday respectively.