- By Namrata Vijay
- Sun, 05 Jan 2025 10:11 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs AUS 5th Test: India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who led the team from the front during the fifth and the last Test match of the ongoing Test series in Sydney after Rohit Sharma pulled out, finally talked about his back injury and was admitted that he did miss bowling on one of the spiciest wickets against Australia during the last innings. He made this statement after winning the Player of the series award for becoming the highest wicket-taker as he had taken 32 wickets.
"Sometimes you have to respect your body, you can’t fight your body. Disappointing, probably missed out on the spiciest wicket of the series," he told the broadcasters during the post-match presentation as Australia had defeated India by six wickets at the SCG and reclaimed the elusive trophy after 10 years.
He was also asked as to when he came to know about his injury, to which he said, “Felt a bit of discomfort during my second spell in the first innings.”
Bumrah, who had led the team for the second time in this series and the third in the longest format, had sustained the injury during the second day of the last Test and was seen rushing to the hospital for some scans. His fellow teammate Prasidh Krishna, during the post-match press conference on Saturday, reckoned that he was suffering from back spasms.
Initially, on Day 3, Bumrah did come out to bat and also missed the warm-up session on the third day at the SCG, but got out for a duck. He did not bowl in the fourth innings.
In his absence, ex-Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting revealed that it was not a serious injury as there were speculations that Bumrah went to the hospital to get some injections as the team management did have the scanning device.
Bumrah had sustained a lower back injury and stayed out of action for almost a year. He did undergo back surgery in March 2023.
India concede the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series
The Pat Cummins-led side the visitors out for just 157 runs as they could score just 16 runs and lost four wickets in 39.5 overs as Scott Boland registered figures of 6/45 and took 10 wickets
Amidst Bumrah's absence, the Virat Kohli-led side did bounce back after Prasidh Krishna took three wickets, as he dismissed Steve Smith, who fell short of being the 15th payer and the fourth Australian batter to have scored 10,000 runs in the longest format.
Usman Khawaja did score a gritty knock of 41 runs and then Travis Head and Beau Webster took the team across the line.
With this win, the hosts have qualified for the 2025 WTC final, where they will face South Africa in June.
