India are on pace to end the toughest Indian Premier League season of their careers Jasprit Bumrah Preparations for his return to international cricket have begun.The star fast bowler took to Instagram to share a moment of himself training with the red ball, marking the start of his preparations for the crucial second half of the season. Bumrah will start India’s three-match ODI series against England on July 14 before turning his attention to the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in August.Bumrah was rested during the T20I series against Ireland and England as part of India’s workload management strategy. He also skipped the one-off Test against Afghanistan, which is not part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. However, the top-order pacer has been named in India’s ODI squad for England and is also part of the squad for the Asian Games later this year.
Unforgettable IPL event
While Bumrah remains one of the best fast bowlers in the world, IPL 2026 is proving to be an extremely tough tournament. represent mumbai indiansThe right-arm fast player took just 4 wickets in 13 games with an average of 102.50, an economy rate of 8.36 and best figures of 1/15. Statistically, this was the worst IPL season of his career, leaving the veteran eager to get back into rhythm with his national team.
Returning to ODI cricket after nearly three years
The upcoming ODI series against England will mark Bumrah’s return to the 50-over format for the first time since the ODI World Cup final against Australia on November 19, 2023. His addition ends a 968-day absence from ODI cricket, a break largely due to India’s careful management of his workload across formats.Despite the lengthy ODI hiatus, Bumrah continues to shine in international cricket. He played a key role in India’s ICC T20 World Cup victory, becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 14 wickets in eight innings at an excellent average of 12.42 and an economy rate of 6.21. His match-winning figures of 4/15 in the final against New Zealand earned him the Man of the Match award and highlighted his importance to India’s bowling attack.
Eyes on the World Test Championship
Once the ODI series is over, Bumrah’s attention will turn to the longest format as India begins another important chapter in its World Test Championship.India will play two Test matches against Sri Lanka from August 15 to 27. The first Test match will be played at the Galle International Stadium and the second Test match at the Sinhala Sports Club Stadium. With valuable World Test Championship points already in hand, Bumrah’s return to peak rhythm could be crucial to India’s ambitions in the new cycle.
