Sydney: In a dramatic turn of events on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah was forced to leave the field due to an injury. The fast bowler, who had already delivered a match-changing performance, was seen leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in a car, headed to a nearby hospital for scans. The nature and extent of his injury remain unclear, though it was confirmed that Bumrah was accompanied by the Indian team doctor.
Before departing, Bumrah had a brief conversation with Virat Kohli, likely discussing his discomfort while bowling. Kohli, who was the vice-captain, immediately took charge of the leadership duties for the remainder of the match. Bumrah’s injury raised significant concerns, as he has been a key figure in India’s bowling attack and had been leading the team in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma, who stepped down due to poor form.
Earlier in the day, Bumrah had made a critical impact with the ball, dismissing Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne early in the day’s play. The wicket marked his 32nd of the series, surpassing the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi’s long-standing record for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in a series in Australia. Bumrah’s achievement is a testament to his remarkable consistency and dominance, making his injury all the more concerning for the Indian team.
India now faces a crucial phase in the Test with Bumrah’s availability uncertain, and Kohli will be tasked with steering the team forward in a potentially game-changing scenario.
