Bumrah's fitness in doubt ahead of CT2025

He will consult medical experts on the nature of his back injury

To ensure he remains fully fit for the Champions Trophy next month, India pacer Jasprit Bumrah might end up skipping the entirety of the white-ball series against England that starts later this month.

While Bumrah's absence from England T20Is was expected given this is not a world cup year, it was expected he will play in at least one of the three matches of the ODI series that starts from February 9.

A call on his participation will be taken in the next few days since the nature and severity of injury he suffered during the fifth Test against Australia last week is not yet known. The official team line is that Bumrah suffered from back spasms which kept him off the field during Australia's second innings in Sydney.

According to a report in Sports Tak, the 31-year-old will take a call on his availability after consulting both the BCCI medical team and the doctor in New Zealand who operated on his back injury in March 2023.

"What he has to do and what suggestions he has to take this is all between BCCI doctors and his doctor who had operated on him in New Zealand, you will know in some days the exact nature of the injury and status. He is in touch with doctors and will be assessed further to know the exact injury and level. If he requires rest, he will be given there is no doubt about it," the publication quoted a source as saying.

Depending on the grade of the injury, Bumrah could require two weeks to three months of recovery time. BCCI though is hopeful the pacer will be available for the ICC tournament slated to get underway from February 19.

Bumrah was India's top performer of the Australia tour as he finished with 32 wickets from five matches and won player-of-the-series award. He also led the team in two Tests in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

India start their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. Before that, they will host England for five T20Is and three ODIs beginning January 22.