Bumrah to undergo fitness test at National Cricket Academy: Ganguly

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Friday (December 20) asserted that Jasprit Burah, who is on his road to recovery from a stress fracture, will have to go through a fitness evaluation done at the National Cricket Academy.

The Indian cricket fans were happy to see their favourite pacer back, bowling in the nets during the practice session ahead of the second ODI against the West Indies in Visakhapatnam.

The statement came after it was speculated that neither the premier Indian pacer nor the Rahul Dravid-led body are keen on going ahead with the test in Bengaluru.

“I am not aware of the issue. But Indian players will have to go back to NCA and we will make sure it’s comfortable and logistically easier,” Ganguly told reporters in Kolktata.

He was responding to a report that Dravid had declined Bumrah’s reluctant request for a fitness test at the NCA. It was said that the former India captain is miffed with Bumrah’s decision to undergo rehabilitation under private trainers instead of the ones from NCA.

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The 26-year-old Bumrah, the No.1 ranked ODI bowler in the ICC list, has been trained with IPL franchise Delhi Capitals’ trainer Rajnikanth Sivagnanam in Mumbai after recovering from the injury.

“NCA has to be the first and final point for International cricketers. it’s a place for Indian cricketers. Everyone has to go through NCA,” asserted Ganguly.

“They play cricket all over the places year long. We will also try and see whether NCA physios can come and help Jasprit in Mumbai. We will keep monitoring under NCA. We want to make sure there are best people with NCA,” he added.

Ganguly recently visited NCA and held discussions with Dravid, who was appointed the head of cricket there in July this year.

“There’s huge hope from Rahul. He’s been a tremendous player. You will get perfection and commitment. We will sort it out,” he said.

“We have given Dravid the charge at the NCA to get it more organised. Ultimately we will extend his role. I’ve spoken to him and the office-bearers. You will get to know the details in a week’s time,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)