Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Series as captain Rohit Sharma calls for the right precautions to be taken for the returning paceman.
Bumrah was sidelined for last year's T20 World Cup down under after suffering a backache in a T20I against South Africa prior to the tournament, an ailment that had also hindered the 29-year-old months prior to the series.
The Indian spearhead was sidelined for a significant period across the new year, planning to return through his nation's ODI series against Sri Lanka in January.
An untimely glute injury derailed his chances of a white-ball return, with Bumrah now seen unlikely to feature in India's first Test against Australia in Nagpur early next month.
Sharma has detailed that Bumrah will be unlikely to feature in his XI for the opening two Tests of the highly-anticipated series, while his prospects for the second half of the four-Test run are no certainty either.
"About Bumrah, I'm not too sure at the moment, of course for the first two Test matches he's not going to be available," Sharma said, viaย ESPN.ย
"I'm expecting that; not expecting but hoping he plays the next two Test matches but again we don't want to take any risk with him.
"The back injuries are always critical. We have got lot of cricket coming up after that as well, we will see, and we will monitor. We are in constant touch with doctors and physios at NCA and we are constantly hearing from them."
The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar will take place on March 1 in Dharamsala before the final match in Ahmedabad, which will be a home return for Bumrah.
India will be hopeful Bumrah will be back to full fitness in time for their hosting duties at this year's ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to commence in October.
