Injury puts Bumrah's participation in day 3 of fifth test in jeopardy

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India captain Jasprit Bumrah left the Sydney Cricket Ground for medical scans after experiencing a back spasm, raising doubts about his participation on Day 3 of the fifth Test against Australia, reports said on Saturday.

Television footage captured the fast bowler, a key performer in the series, exiting the ground about an hour after the lunch interval.

Bumrah, who removed Marnus Labuschagne earlier in the day to take his series total to 32 wickets at an average of 13.06, did not return after lunch.

Prasidh Krishna addressed the media, revealing that Bumrah had suffered a back spasm, raising doubts about his participation on Day 3.

"He had a back spasm. He went for scans. The medical team is monitoring him, and we'll know more when they update us," Krishna shared with reporters.

According to TOI, while Bumrah may bat on Day 3, the management will decide on his bowling depending on his condition in the morning.

Bumrah, the top wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 32 wickets, had led India to a 295-run victory in the first Test, putting them 1-0 up.

However, Australia, led by Pat Cummins, leveled the series with a 10-wicket win in the second Test. The third Test at Gabba ended in a draw, and Australia claimed a 184-run victory in the fourth to lead 2-1 in the five-match series.

In the fifth Test, after Bumrah's absence, Virat Kohli stepped in as the on-field captain in Sydney.

India scored 185 in the first innings, and their bowlers dismissed Australia for 181. However, India's top order struggled again in the second innings, with Australia taking six wickets by the end of Day 2.

India, without skipper Rohit Sharma for this match, must win in Sydney to level the series 2-2 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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