Bumrah Joining Practice Matches for Afghanistan T20I Series: Report

India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is set to play in practice matches ahead of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins on 13 September. According to a report, Bumrah will join Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar in these matches, scheduled from 4 to 9 September in Bengaluru. The Indian team is expected to gather in Delhi on 10 September, three days before the series starts.

The BCCI’s medical team recently shared a report with selectors, stating that while Bumrah and the other players are fit, they need to be assessed through practice matches. The Centre of Excellence (CoE) is confident these players will be ready for the Afghanistan series.

Right-arm bowler Prince Yadav could serve as Bumrah’s backup. Yadav missed the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England in July. He hasn’t played a Test match since November 2025 against South Africa.

India is scheduled to play New Zealand in two Test matches later this year, but Bumrah may need more game time in the Ranji Trophy or India A series before being considered for Tests. The management wants to ensure his knee can handle first-class games before he returns to Tests.

Bumrah is likely to rest during India’s T20I series against the West Indies in October. However, his potential games with India A in New Zealand overlap with the ODI series there.

India A is set to play three four-day matches against New Zealand A between 24 October and 10 November, while the senior team’s Test series against New Zealand begins on 19 November.