Jasprit Bumrah: Never thought of time away from cricket as a 'dark phase', always looked for solutions

India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah opened up on his year-long absence from the game due to a back injury, saying he never thought of the time spent away from cricket as a “dark phase”.

Bumrah returns to action in India’s upcoming T20I series against Ireland starting Friday, having last represented the Men in Blue against Australia at home last September.

Bumrah will not only aim to get his rhythm back in the build-up to Asia Cup and the ICC World Cup, he has also been assigned the responsibility of leading a second-string Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma and several other first-team players as well as head coach Rahul Dravid.

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In Ireland, he will be required to bowl four overs per game but speaking ahead of the first T20I on Friday, the star pacer said the plan was always to prepare for 50-over events including the Asia Cup beginning 31 August and the World Cup at home beginning 5 October.

“We were mindful of the fact there is no Test cricket till the ODI World Cup. In my rehab as well, I was not preparing for a T20 game. I was always preparing for the World Cup competition.

“I have been bowling 10, 12 and even 15 overs. So I have bowled more overs, that way it becomes easier when less bowling is required. We kept that in mind that we are preparing for one-day competition and not a four-over competition.

“I have lots of overs under my belt. You have to keep working your way up. From where you left, you are are little down and you keep working your way up,” Bumrah, who will captain India in the three T20s against Ireland, told reporters.