NEW DELHI (AP) – Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of India’s squad for the Asia Cup because of a back injury, but Virat Kohli is set to return following his brief break from international cricket.
Harshal Patel has a rib injury and was also ruled out of the continental Twenty20 (T20) tournament, which starts on August 27 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). India will meet archrival Pakistan on August 28.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement that Bumrah and Patel were undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. The absence of strike paceman Bumrah is a big setback for India.
Vice-captain KL Rahul will return to action for the first time since the Indian Premier League in May. Rahul, who underwent surgery for a hernia, had been scheduled to play against the West Indies this month but was ruled out of the series after testing positive for COVID-19.
Kohli was rested after India’s tour of England ended in mid-July and has played just in four T20s and scored 81 runs since the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year.
He also had below-par run in the IPL last season, making 341 runs at a strike rate of 116.
