Jasprit Bumrah’s Fitness to Be Assessed by New Zealand Specialist: Reports

Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy will depend on the advice of New Zealand doctor Rowen Schouten. The fast bowler is on a five-week rest after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He will likely travel to New Zealand for a check-up based on his reports and the doctor's feedback. Bumrah is on India's team for the championship. But, it's unclear if he'll fit in before the tournament starts on February 19.

As reported by the Times of India, the BCCI medical team has been in touch with Dr. Rowen Schouten and had planned a visit for Jasprit Bumrah to New Zealand, which has not happened yet. A BCCI source said the selectors knew it would take a "miracle" for the pacer to be fit in time. It was interesting to note that Dr. Schouten did Bumrah's surgery. He was ruled out of the 2022 T20 World Cup due to injury.

“The BCCI medical team is in touch with Schouten in New Zealand. The board had also planned a visit for Bumrah to New Zealand. But that hasn’t happened yet. The selectors know it will be a miracle if Bumrah turns up 100% fit in the given timeline,” a BCCI source told TOI.

According to the report, though the BCCI medical team is scheduled to assess Jasprit Bumrah at the end of his three-week offloading process, it was completed last week. The assessment findings will be submitted to Dr. Rowen Schouten, after which Bumrah's travel to New Zealand is dependent on the received feedback. Moreover, a BCCI source said that the selectors will be updated about his availability only after the entire process is completed.

“The reports will be shared with his doctor in New Zealand. Sending Bumrah to New Zealand will depend on the feedback. The board and Bumrah himself are not willing to push hard given his significance over a long period of time. The selectors will only be informed if he is ready to take the field after the entire process is complete. The selectors will need to keep a backup plan ready for him. It will be a miracle if Bumrah makes it,” the source added.