New Delhi: In the three-match T20I series against Ireland, Jasprit Bumrah will captain the Indian cricket team and make his long-awaited comeback from injury.
Having their star fast bowler back in action before the ICC World Cup 2023 is very positive news for India.
Bumrah's journey hasn't been simple, though; he was forced to withdraw from the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Indian Premier League because of injuries.
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Glenn McGrath, a legendary Australian pacer, expressed his concern about Bumrah's injury struggles and warned that he might not be able to handle the workload to extend his career.
"He (Bumrah) has been incredible for India. His bowling stats, the wickets he has taken, and the way he bowls, I am a big fan but his bowling action puts a lot of stress on his body. So he needs to stay strong and fit. If he does that he could play for a few more years," McGrath said.
"With the current international schedule and the IPL, there is no off-season anymore for a fast bowler, especially for someone like Jasprit, who needs an off-season to pull his strength back in. So that's a decision he needs to make himself (on whether to give up on one of the formats). It is getting harder to play all three formats. That is something Jasprit will have to think about moving forward because what he does is unique and is quite tough on his body too. I think he has a lot more to offer for the rest of his career."
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Bumrah can learn from some of the best bowlers in the world, according to MCGrath, who gave examples from contemporary cricket to make his point.
"There is a lot of cricket played these days. It puts a strain on your body, but you have to know how to recover and find time to put strength back on your body. Guys like James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Courtney Walsh played for many years as they knew how to manage their bodies. I worked hard on my fitness, and I had an easy action which made my comeback from Injury easier," he explained.
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