Shane Bond warns another injury could end Jasprit Bumrah’s career

Former New Zealand fast bowler and ex-Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach Shane Bond has issued a stark warning regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s injury concerns, stating that another setback in the same area could be career-threatening. Bond emphasized that Bumrah should not play more than two consecutive Test matches to ensure his longevity in international cricket, ESPNcricinfo reported.

Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler, has been recovering from a lower back injury that kept him out of India’s victorious 2025 ICC Champions Trophy campaign. The pacer, whom Virat Kohli has labeled a "national treasure," played a crucial role in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy win earlier this year, taking 32 wickets in five matches. However, his campaign ended abruptly in the final Test in Sydney due to a stress-related injury. Since then, he has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, with no clarity on his availability for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

IPL participation is uncertain as workload management takes priority

Shane Bond, who has worked with Bumrah during his coaching stint with Mumbai Indians and is currently Rajasthan Royals’ bowling coach, stressed the importance of managing Bumrah’s workload carefully. Having suffered a back injury himself that curtailed his career, Bond understands the challenges of fast bowling and its toll on the body.

"When he went off for scans at Sydney, there was some messaging that it was a sprain, but I feared it could be something more serious, possibly a bony injury," Bond told ESPNcricinfo. "I worried that he might struggle to make the Champions Trophy if that was the case."

Bond pointed out that transitioning from the IPL’s short-format intensity to the rigorous demands of Test cricket is a significant risk, especially with India set to tour England for a five-match Test series barely a month after the IPL ends on May 25. "The real danger period is when you transition from T20 to Test cricket. It’s a big jump in workload. In T20s, you bowl about 20 overs a week, but in Tests, that could be half a match load or even less. The challenge is how you build up to that without causing further injury."

Balancing IPL and the England tour is crucial for Jasprit Bumrah’s future

With the IPL being the only competitive cricket Bumrah can play before India’s England tour, Bond acknowledged that his participation is still uncertain. "Maybe touch and go for the IPL. There will be an element of risk depending on the intensity at which he is bowling by the time he gets back."

India’s tour of England, spanning from June 28 to August 3, will be a grueling series, and Bond cautioned against overburdening Bumrah like in the Australia tour, where he bowled a staggering 151.2 overs across five matches. "He is too valuable for the next World Cup and other key tournaments. If I were managing him, I wouldn’t want him playing more than two Tests in a row. Coming straight from the IPL into a Test series is a huge risk."

Bond suggested that India might have to limit Bumrah’s participation in the England series to three or even just two Tests to ensure he remains fit for the long term. "If he sustains another injury in the same spot, it could be a career-ender. I’m not sure if you can have surgery on that area again."

Bond concluded by emphasizing that Bumrah’s fitness should be a joint responsibility between the player and Indian cricket’s decision-makers. "It’s important for Bumrah to work closely with the selectors and medical team to make informed choices. Players are always desperate to play, but sometimes, they need to understand the risks and make compromises for their own good."

As Bumrah races against time to regain match fitness, India faces a crucial decision: risk playing their ace pacer in the IPL and England series or prioritize his long-term future for upcoming global tournaments.

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