India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is facing renewed fitness concerns ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, with reports suggesting he may be undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru due to a knee injury.
According to a report by PTI, Bumrah’s inability to manage the workload of five consecutive Test matches during the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England has not been well-received by top officials within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“If Bumrah plays in Asia Cup…”
A senior BCCI official, speaking to PTI on the condition of anonymity, provided a clear update:
“Look, if Bumrah plays in the Asia Cup and if India go the distance till September 28, he won’t obviously play the West Indies Test series starting October 2. However, if there are no injuries, he will certainly play the two Tests against World champions South Africa in November,”
– Senior BCCI Official (via PTI)
The statement makes it evident that Bumrah’s Asia Cup participation will directly impact his availability for upcoming red-ball series, including Tests against the West Indies and South Africa.
Knee Injury, CoE Rehab & Controversy
The Times of India reported that Bumrah has suffered a knee injury, and is now set to undergo rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The development has raised questions about the workload management protocols employed by the board and the efficiency of the sports science team.
Notably, Bumrah was rested for the 5th Test against England. While officially it was labeled as “workload management,” the emergence of injury reports has left many observers questioning the transparency of BCCI’s handling.
Selection Clarity from Ajit Agarkar
To address confusion around Bumrah’s status, a BCCI official also clarified to the Hindustan Times:
“As announced by chief selector Ajit Agarkar at the time of the team selection, the decision on the number of Tests Bumrah will be able to play was taken in advance by the medical and fitness team. If he was injured, he would be going to BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for recovery and rehab.”
– BCCI Source to HT
This suggests that Bumrah’s workload was being planned and monitored in advance — yet the knee issue still emerged, prompting deeper scrutiny.
Asia Cup 2025: Bumrah’s Timeline
The Asia Cup T20 will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. India’s campaign begins on September 10 vs UAE, followed by a high-stakes match against Pakistan on September 14, and another group-stage game against Oman on September 19.
Bumrah’s presence will be vital, especially for the clash against Pakistan, but with injury uncertainty and rehab ongoing, his final status remains unclear.
Bumrah’s Recent Performance
In the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Bumrah featured in three out of five Tests, picking up 14 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls — one at Headingley and another at Lord’s. He bowled nearly 120 overs across those matches, averaging just 26.
Conclusion
As of now, Bumrah is expected to undergo rehab at the CoE and is unlikely to feature in both the Asia Cup and the West Indies Test series back-to-back. With the T20 World Cup 2026 preparations on the horizon, BCCI’s medical team is expected to adopt a cautious approach to safeguard the long-term future of India’s ace pacer.
