Asia Cup: Jasprit Bumrah ruled out, Virat Kohli returns to India squad

Loss of strike paceman Bumrah is a major blow, while Kohli is back after being rested for India’s tour of England

The Twenty20 tournament begins on August 27, with UAE, Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong playing each other before then to decide who takes the final spot

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Jasprit Bumrah has been sidelined by injury as India prepare for the Asia Cup in the UAE. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Published: 8:49pm, 9 Aug 2022

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 will also miss the continental Twenty20 tournament, which is set to start on August 27 in the United Arab Emirates, with the Group B clash between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. India will play Pakistan in Dubai the following day.

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 Bangalore. The absence of strike paceman Bumrah is a big setback for India.

India, Pakistan and a qualifier will contest Group A in the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are in Group B.

India’s Virat Kohli has played in only four T20s since last year’s Twenty20 World Cup. Photo: AFP

UAE, Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong will compete in the qualifying tournament in Oman from August 20, with the winners facing India in their first game on August 31 in Dubai, and Pakistan in Sharjah on September 2.

The possibility of playing the two full-member sides has been hanging over the Hong Kong squad since the draw was announced last week, but head coach Trent Johnston said his team had not allowed it to distract them as they battle to win Challenge League B.