Jasprit Bumrah’s family member hospitalized; pacer doubtful for last two South Africa T20Is
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah left the Indian squad ahead of the third T20I due to a family emergency. The BCCI and the team management confirmed that the decision was taken for personal reasons, with reports indicating the fast bowler returned home because a close family member has been hospitalized.
Bumrah was unavailable for the third T20I against South Africa at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on December 15. India captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the toss that Bumrah had returned home. It is worth mentioning that the right-arm pacer reached 100 wickets in T20Is during the second game on December 9.
“We have two forced changes. Axar Patel misses out because he is not well, and Bumrah misses out because he has some personal reasons back home," Surya said.
Will Jasprit Bumrah Play the Fourth T20I Against South Africa?
The BCCI confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah returned home because of personal reasons and was unavailable for the match. The board said it will share an update on his availability for the remaining games at a later stage.
A day after India’s win in Dharamsala, it was revealed that Bumrah left the squad due to a family emergency. According to a report by PTI, a close family member of the fast bowler is currently in the hospital.
The official added that Bumrah could return for the fourth or fifth T20I if the situation improves. However, his family member’s recovery remains the top priority.
“If all goes well, then he might return for the fourth or even fifth game (in Ahmedabad). But first priority is recovery of his family member," a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying to PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana Step Up in Jasprit Bumrah’s Absence
Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, India tightened their grip on the T20I series with a comfortable win over South Africa in Dharamsala, taking a 2-1 lead. The hosts secured the victory with an impressive bowling display that kept the visitors under constant pressure.
South Africa struggled from the start as wickets fell regularly. Arshdeep Singh struck early by removing key batters, while Harshit Rana set the tone for the innings by dismissing Dewald Brevis.
Aiden Markram was the lone bright spot for South Africa. He scored 61 runs off 46 balls, including six boundaries and two sixes. Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets each, while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube bagged one scalp apiece.
India Cruise to Comfortable Chase, Take 2-1 Series Lead
India got off to a flying start in the chase, with Abhishek Sharma playing freely in the powerplay. He scored 35 runs off 18 balls, including three fours and as many sixes, before being dismissed.
Shubman Gill kept things steady with a useful contribution, while Suryakumar Yadav also added a few runs. South Africa managed to slow the scoring for a short period in the middle overs, but the target was never out of reach.
Shivam Dube finished the match in style, hitting a six and a four in back-to-back deliveries to seal the win. The fourth T20I is set to be played in Lucknow on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the remaining matches remains unclear, as his return depends on the recovery of his family member.
Also read: Shaheen Afridi BANNED mid-over in BBL for dangerous bowling vs Melbourne Renegades
from Cricket Addictor https://ift.tt/nMcAmbz
