Jasprit Bumrah left the field after bowling just one over in the second session on Day 2 of the fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, January 4. This marks a significant setback for India, as Bumrah has been the standout bowler of the series.
The stand-in captain returned to the field after the lunch break but handed over leadership duties to Virat Kohli after his solitary over.
Shortly after, visuals showed Bumrah leaving the venue in a car accompanied by the team doctor, reportedly heading to a nearby medical facility for scans. While there has been no official confirmation about the nature of his discomfort, his early exit raises concerns for the Indian team.
Before leaving, Bumrah had already made an impact, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne in the fourth over of the day, caught behind by Rishabh Pant. He bowled a total of 10 overs, conceding 33 runs and claiming two wickets. With only three frontline seamers in their lineup, Bumrah’s absence leaves India in a precarious situation.
In his absence, Kohli brought all-rounder Nitish Reddy into the attack. Although Reddy struggled with the bat in the first innings, he stepped up with the ball, claiming the wickets of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in consecutive overs.
Prasidh Krishna, who had earlier dismissed Steve Smith in the first session, continued his impressive form by removing Alex Carey and Beau Webster. At the time of writing, Australia had lost their ninth wicket for 166 runs, trailing India’s first-innings total by 15 runs.