Bumrah Arrives in Canberra to Lead India's Pace in Five-Match T20s

Jasprit Bumrah has arrived in Australia and will lead India’s pace attack in the five-match T20 International series that begins Wednesday at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, even though he was rested for the three-match ODI series that preceded it. The 31-year-old fast bowler, managed for workload reasons after a history of injuries, travelled to Canberra with the T20 squad to prepare for the series and the build-up to next year’s major ICC events.

Bumrah’s inclusion was confirmed after India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer was ruled out with a lacerated spleen sustained during the final ODI. Australia, who won the ODI series 2-1, opted to field first in the opening T20 at a sold-out Manuka Oval crowd that included a large contingent of India supporters. Australia named Josh Hazlewood to lead their pace attack and recalled Josh Philippe, who returned to the national side after two years and replaced Matthew Short, who underwent finger surgery.

Selectors have managed Bumrah’s workload across formats. He missed the recent ODI series as part of a deliberate rest plan designed to protect his fitness after lengthy spells sidelined by injury in 2022 and earlier this year. That management reflects...