Stress fracture rules Jasprit Bumrah out of South Africa Tests

India fast bowler suffers back injury, with Umesh Yadav named replacement for three-match series

Virat Kohli (L) and Jasprit Bumrah (R) of India celebrates the dismissal of Jermaine Blackwood of West Indies during day 4 of the 2nd Test between West Indies and India at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, on September 2, 2019. / AFP / Randy Brooks
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India Test squad

Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill

India's premier paceman Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against South Africa with a stress fracture in his lower back, the Indian cricket board said on Tuesday.

Seasoned pacer Umesh Yadav will replace Bumrah, who tops the bowling chart in one-day rankings and is placed third in Tests, in the 15-man squad for the three five-day matches starting October 2 in Visakhapatnam.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India said "the injury was detected during a routine radiological screening".

"He will now undergo rehabilitation at NCA (National Cricket Academy) and will be monitored by the BCCI medical team."

Bumrah, 25, who has an unorthodox sling-arm action, has claimed 62 wickets in 12 Tests and recently claimed just the third hat-trick by an Indian in the longest format against the West Indies.

Known for bowling near-perfect yorkers in the death overs, he was India's strike bowler in the recent 50-over World Cup in England, taking 18 wickets from nine matches.

But the quick was not part of the recently concluded three-match Twenty20 series against the visiting South African side who won the final game to draw the series 1-1. The first match was washed out.

Bumrah's bowling action has generated a lot of debate and concern, with his front-on action and high-intensity delivery stride putting extreme pressure on his back. Many fast bowling experts across the world had warned youngsters to not copy Bumrah's action as it requires delicate handling and constant monitoring.

The Indian team management had made Bumrah's workload management and injury assessment one of its top priorities because of his importance to the Indian team in all formats and also the constant risk of injury.

Bumrah's injury will be a major setback to the Indian team going forward as he has proven to be the deciding factor in numerous Indian wins over the past season.

India Test squad

Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill