'Don't rule him out yet': Sourav Ganguly provides major update on Jasprit Bumrah ahead of T20 World Cup 2022

Former Indian skipper and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has insisted that Jasprit Bumrah is not entirely ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 after recent reports claimed that Bumrah is likely to miss out on the major tournament. 

Regarding Bumrah's injury and his chances of making the T20 spectacle, Ganguly stated on Friday that the situation will be clear in the upcoming two to three days. 

The 28-year-old was rushed to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru from Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday to undergo scans on his back after being ruled out of the ongoing three-match T20I series against South Africa.

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It has been learnt that Bumrah went for scans and the assessment is underway at the NCA. The initial impression is that the back injury that the India pacer is suffering from is not as serious as it was originally thought to be. Though, there is no guarantee that he will be there for the showpiece event in Australia. 

Bumrah had recently returned to full fitness after missing the Asia Cup 2022 through injury, and he didn't play in the first match of the recently concluded T20I series against Australia. He did play in the subsequent two matches but played no part in India's first T20I against South Africa. 

"Let's see what happens. Bumrah is not out of the World Cup yet," Ganguly told Xtra Time digital channel in Kolkata on Friday.

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"Fingers crossed, yes. We will find out in the next two or three days. Don't rule him out yet," he added.

The scans done on Bumrah will be studied by independent medical consultants hired by the BCCI who will then coordinate with the board's medical staff to determine the next step on the future of pacer, an ESPNcricinfo report said.

As it stands, Bumrah is in a race against time with the India squad departing for Australia on October 6 to prepare for the T20 World Cup.

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They will be in Perth until October 13 before heading to Brisbane where they are scheduled to play two practice matches against Australia and New Zealand on October 17 and 19 before moving to Melbourne to play their tournament opener against Pakistan on October 23.

With inputs from IANS