After enduring the toughest Indian Premier League season of his career, India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has begun preparations for his return to international cricket.The star fast bowler shared glimpses of himself training with the red ball on Instagram, signalling the start of his preparations for a crucial second half of the season. Bumrah is set to return for India’s three-match ODI series against England, beginning on July 14, before turning his attention to the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in August.Bumrah was rested for the T20I series against Ireland and England as part of India’s workload management strategy. He also skipped the one-off Test against Afghanistan, a fixture that was not part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. However, the premier pacer has been named in India’s ODI squad for England and is also part of the squad for the Asian Games later this year.
A forgettable IPL campaign
While Bumrah remains one of the world’s finest fast bowlers, the 2026 IPL proved to be an uncharacteristically difficult tournament. Representing Mumbai Indians, the right-arm quick managed just four wickets in 13 matches at an average of 102.50 and an economy rate of 8.36, with best figures of 1/15. It was statistically the worst IPL season of his career, leaving the veteran eager to rediscover his rhythm in national colours.
Return to ODI Cricket after nearly three years
The upcoming ODI series against England will mark Bumrah’s return to the 50-over format for the first time since the ODI World Cup final against Australia on November 19, 2023. His inclusion ends a 968-day absence from ODI cricket, with the break largely driven by India’s careful management of his workload across formats.Despite the extended layoff from ODIs, Bumrah continued to shine in international cricket. He played a pivotal role in India’s ICC T20 World Cup triumph, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 wickets in eight innings at an outstanding average of 12.42 and an economy rate of 6.21. His match-winning spell of 4/15 in the final against New Zealand earned him the Player of the Match award and underlined his importance to India’s bowling attack.
Eyes on the World Test Championship
Once the ODI series concludes, Bumrah’s focus will shift to the longest format as India begin another important chapter in their World Test Championship campaign.India will face Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series from August 15 to 27. The opening Test will be played at the Galle International Stadium, while the second Test will take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. With valuable World Test Championship points on offer, Bumrah’s return to peak rhythm could be crucial to India’s ambitions in the new cycle.
