Bumrah injured again

By Bipin Dani
Team India’s fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has a unique bowling action. While releasing the ball, his hand moves right to left without bending, and then the finger flicks the ball as well. So the ball comes diagonally at a higher pace. That’s too much movement in an unplayable angle. Bumrah had to deal with a stress fracture in the back before - in 2019. He endured a lengthy layoff due to this injury. More recently, he had already missed the Asia Cup in the UAE owing to back spasms and is now out of the series against the ongoing South Africa series and doubtful for the World Cup due to begin in Australia.

“Such repeated bouts of lower back pain need to be investigated with the expertise of orthopaedic surgeons specialising in the spine. Once the cause and extent of the injury have been determined, appropriate physiotherapy treatment and strengthening can begin, with gradual progression into cricket bowling. The bigger problem that needs to be addressed is adequate rest and recovery,” Deckline Leitao, the sports conditioning and fitness specialist, said.

“Because of their powerful twisting motion, fast bowlers’ lower back injuries are always a risk in cricket. Therefore, the first time the pain shows up, it has to be nipped in the bud. Playing through the pain and trying to handle it without expert orthopaedic opinion can make a player lose months and sometimes prime years of play. No Pain, No Gain... doesn’t work at ground level in any sport and only causes more damage,” he added. 

“Bumrah’s bowling action makes him one of the toughest bowlers to face, but his action is prone to injuries and that will be a part of his career. Back injuries are career-threatening, and he is a national treasure. I guess he will have to balance his schedule between the IPL and the other three formats of the game. He has earned the right to pick and choose his battles. If he misses the T20 world cup, it will be a huge disappointment, but it will at least help him pace himself better for next year’s event. He is a very confident and mature cricketer. He lives in the moment and the process,” Badri Narayan, a certified mental conditioning coach, said. 

A good and specific training program needs to be designed for Bumrah, according to Ramji Srinivasan, who has worked with the Indian team in the past.

“Counselling sessions are of vital importance for keeping the motivational level up by removing negative and insecure thought processes. Good teamwork is of paramount importance to put the play back into the game by firing on all cylinders. I am sure the BCCI will take care of him. He is a rock star and needs to be taken care of with the utmost professionalism. I wish him a speedy recovery and come back with a bang,” he said.