I looked at it as off-season, got a lot of time to spend with my family – Jasprit Bumrah on his recovery time

India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah reflected on his time away from the game due to a back injury. Bumrah admitted he looked at it as off-season and got to spend a lot of time with his family, which he hasn’t done due to the hectic schedule of the team.

Bumrah had last played in September 2022 against Australia and he was ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to injury. The ace pacer will make the much-awaited comeback to the game in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, in which he will also lead the team.

Bumrah revealed he remained positive during his recovery time and focused on his rehab during the break.

Speaking ahead of the first T20I against Ireland, Jasprit Bumrah, who will become India’s 11th T20I skipper, said, “I was not really thinking about it too much. Anyways you are facing an injury, so you are trying to solve that problem rather than thinking about what the world is saying or what you have to do. I was just thinking about recuperating and fixing things.”

“After the fix happened, I started enjoying my rehab as well. You learn to enjoy a game a lot more. Usually, we don’t get a lot of time off. Probably after 10-11 years, this is the first time in summer I was at home and I spoke to my mother about it.”

“I looked at it as off-season, got a lot of time to spend with my family. Looking at the positives. Obviously, it was a little disappointing that you are away from the game. You want to play and contribute. You miss some important tournaments as well, but that’s something that you cannot control, so you can’t be really frustrated about it,” he went on to add.

Bumrah revealed he was preparing for the upcoming World Cup and will want to give his absolute best in the ODI showpiece.

“We were mindful that there is not a lot of Test cricket that I am going to play. In India’s cycle, there are no Test matches till the World Cup ends. In my rehab as well, I was not preparing for a T20 game, I was always preparing for a World Cup competition. I have been bowling 10, 12, 15 overs. I have bowled more overs, so it becomes easier to bowl lesser than what is required,” he said.

There is no doubt Jasprit Bumrah will hold the key for India in the upcoming ODI World Cup if the team is to go all the way.