Jasprit Bumrah set to join India's Asia Cup squad

India received a major boost ahead of the Asia Cup as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has reportedly confirmed his availability for the tournament. According to reports, the 31-year-old fast bowler has informed chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his panel that he is fully fit and eager to participate in the T20 competition, scheduled to take place in the UAE next month.

The selection committee is expected to meet in Mumbai on August 19, to finalize the squad. A source confirmed, “Bumrah has informed the selectors that he will be available for Asia Cup selection. The panel will discuss it during their meeting next week.”

Bumrah last represented India in white-ball cricket during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he played a crucial role in Rohit Sharma’s title-winning side. In the final at Bridgetown, Barbados, he produced a match-winning spell of 2 for 18 against South Africa to seal India’s dramatic triumph.

More recently, he was released from the Test squad for the series decider of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval, with team management keen to manage his workload. Bumrah featured in three of the first four Tests, delivering 119.4 overs and bagging two five-wicket hauls. His absence in the final match, however, sparked renewed concerns about his fitness, especially given his previous back injury that sidelined him for four months earlier this year.

With the Asia Cup in the T20 format, such worries are expected to be minimal. Bumrah will be required to bowl a maximum of four overs per game, with sufficient recovery time of three to four days between group-stage fixtures. Significantly, he will also have enjoyed nearly 40 days of rest since his last Test outing in England before India’s opening Asia Cup match.