Bumrah, Harshal set to return for T20 World Cup

With the deadline to submit the teams for the T20 World Cup nearing, the national selection committee is expected to meet on September 15 to pick the India squad for the mega event.

Jasprit Bumrah in action. | Photo Credit: AP

Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel are expected to be picked for the T20 World Cup squad, but their fitness will be monitored throughout the home series against Australia and South Africa.

Several sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have confirmed to  Sportstar that both Bumrah and Harshal, who missed out on the Asia Cup due to injuries, have had a steady recovery so far.

 According to certain reports, they have also cleared the fitness test. 

The BCCI insiders believe that the limited overs series against Australia and South Africa will help them gain match exposure ahead of the ICC event.

With the deadline to submit the teams for the T20 World Cup nearing, the national selection committee is expected to meet on September 15 to pick the India squad for the mega event. So, it is believed that both Bumrah and Harshal could be kept in the squad.

 However, their fitness will be monitored throughout the home series.

After a dismal show in the Asia Cup, several former cricketers - including Brett Lee - had batted for the inclusion of Mohammed Shami into the squad, but it needs to be seen whether the selectors will call back the seasoned campaigner if both Harshal and Bumrah are back into the squad. 

As of now it is believed that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar would be the preferred choice along with Bumrah and Harshal.

In the spin department, Axar Patel is set to retain his spot for the World Cup with Ravindra Jadeja out of the reckoning after undergoing a knee surgery recently.