India’s captain for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy finale, Jasprit Bumrah, walked off the field on the second day of the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground following a possible injury. On Star Sports, visuals were made to Bumrah, who, with the team doctor, left for the nearby hospital for scans. Having gone off the field during lunch, Bumrah came back to bowl one over before walking off again, and fears over his fitness for the remainder of the match.
On the absence of Bumrah, the former captain of Indian test team Virat Kohli led the group again. This is the first time Kohli is leading the side since he resigned in July 2023 due to disagreement with the BCCI. Kohli’s addition is seasoned experience matching it with a major weakness ushered in by the absence of both Bumrah from a combination of leadership and striking firepower.
Substitute Rule Explained
Bumrah was replaced by the batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran as the substitute fielder. Cricket rules allow granting substitution for fielding but the substitute cannot bowl, bat or captain without the permission of the opposite team. Spare players need to be out of the playing region for a period equivalent of the time they spent on the injury-update before getting back to playing, not exceeding 90 minutes. Facial contusions making it possible to allow swaps of like players during an ICC regulated break.
Challenges Ahead
However, without Bumrah, India’s bowling remains weak and the team is under pressure to clinch a comprehensive win in this final of a series. Bumrah’s absence is unfortunate as he came to captain the side in place of Rohit Sharma who pulled out due to indifferent form.
The Indian team now pins its hope on Kohli to steer the team through these phases of challenge, but a major concern for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy final is Bumrah’s fitness.
