Jasprit Bumrah returns to India's squad for Sri Lanka ODIs
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been added to India's squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series versus Sri Lanka at home, starting January 10. Owing to a back injury, the right-arm pacer has been out of action since September last year. India missed his services in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup. The star pacer is set to bolster Team India's pace attack.
Bumrah to solidify India's bowling attack
Bumrah missed several series and tournaments, including the T20 WC, where India got knocked out in the semi-final. India even lost the away ODI series (2-1) versus Bangladesh last month. It is worth noting that Bumrah wasn't named in India's initial squad for the SL ODIs. The BCCI confirmed his inclusion after the pacer was declared fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Here is India's revised squad for the series
India's updated squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-Captain), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
How Bumrah has fared in ODIs so far?
Bumrah, who made his ODI debut in 2016, has been nothing but sensational in the format. He currently owns 121 wickets in 72 games, with his economy rate being 4.64. The right-arm speedster has scalped a couple of five-wicket hauls in ODIs. One of them was recorded versus the Lankan Lions in 2017 (5/27). Overall, Bumrah has 22 wickets in 10 ODIs vs SL.
Nine ODIs before WC
It must be noted that India will play nine ODIs before the ICC ODI World Cup later this year. The fact that Bumrah has only been included in the ODI squad and not in T20Is indicates the urgency to play key players regularly in the format. Notably, India are the hosts of the tournament and would be determined to get the glory.
