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Border-Gavaskar Trophy: India quick Jasprit Bumrah under injury cloud ahead of third Test at Gabba

Samantha RogersThe West Australian
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Jasprit Bumrah is under an injury cloud ahead of the third Test in Brisbane, with India’s superstar quick failing to train alongside another big name.
Camera IconJasprit Bumrah is under an injury cloud ahead of the third Test in Brisbane, with India’s superstar quick failing to train alongside another big name. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

There are question marks over the fitness of superstar India quick Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the third Test in Brisbane after he failed to train with teammates on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old, who tore through Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series opener in Perth, sent a scare through the touring camp when he required medical attention mid-spell in Adelaide.

During his 20th over, Bumrah grabbed at his inner thigh and immediately called for assistance in the middle of Adelaide Oval, which was later dismissed as cramp by India assistant Morne Morkel.

He managed to play out the match, which India lost by 10 wickets, but was absent from the tourists’ net session this week ahead of their flight to Queensland.

Mohammed Siraj, who was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for a heated on-field exchange with Australia’s Travis Head, also missed the session, prompting concerns ahead of the Gabba Test.

Bumrah reportedly spent time with the team’s strength and conditioning coach away from the main group as other fast bowlers, including Harshit Rana, went full throttle in the net session.

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With doubts around Bumrah’s availability, all eyes will be on Thursday’s main training session ahead of the toss in Brisbane on Saturday.

Bumrah gets medical attention on day two in Adelaide.
Camera IconBumrah gets medical attention on day two in Adelaide. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

India captain Rohit Sharma said the world’s No.1 bowler, who has taken 12 wickets at an average of 11.25 in the opening two Tests, shouldn’t be exclusively relied on to defeat Australia.

“It’s a great thing to have someone like Bumrah but he’s not the only one who is going to get the job done every time,” he said.

“The other guys have to take that responsibility... there are times when Bumrah will not get wickets and the other guys need to step in.

“And that is how we talk within our batting group as well... share the responsibility. It’s not about just one individual or two individuals.

“If you want to win the Test match, the series, everyone needs to share that responsibility of putting their hand up and getting the job done.

“That is something I have seen within the group for many years now - it’s not the case now.”

Bumrah has been India’s most damaging bowler in the opening two Tests.
Camera IconBumrah has been India’s most damaging bowler in the opening two Tests. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The five-match series is level at 1-1, with the Gabba Test to be followed by the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the New Year’s Test in Sydney in early January.

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