WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah displays menacing form in nets; troubles Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal with his blistering pace

The upcoming T20I series against Ireland will mark the return of Jasprit Bumrah to competitive cricket after an absence of nearly 11 months. Bumrah has been named as the captain of the Indian side for the three-gameT20I series, which is set to begin on August 18. All the fixtures of the series will be held in Dublin.

Bumrah’s last appearance in international cricket was during the T20I series against Australia in September 2022. Subsequently, he was sidelined due to a stress fracture in his back, which led to a period of rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. As a result, the 29-year-old has been away from international cricket for almost a year, causing him to miss important events such as the Asia Cup 2022, the T20 World Cup 2022, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season.

Also READ: IRE vs IND 2023: India’s best playing XI for the T20I series against Ireland

Bumrah returns to India nets with fierce pace and precision

Just two days ahead of the first T20I, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a short video clip showcasing Bumrah’s intense practice session in the nets. In the video, The Indian speedster is seen bowling with full intensity, delivering a ferocious bouncer that forces right-handed batter Ruturaj Gaikwad to take evasive action. Bumrah follows it up with a precise yorker that poses a challenge for left-handed batter Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“The moment we have all been waiting for. @Jaspritbumrah93 like we have always known him,” BCCI captioned their Twitter post.

Here’s the video: 

The moment we have all been waiting for. @Jaspritbumrah93 like we have always known him. 🔥🔥 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/uyIzm2lcI9

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 16, 2023

Bumrah’s role in the series against Ireland goes beyond his performance on the field. As the appointed captain, the Ahmedabad-born cricketer will be entrusted with leading a relatively young Indian team. The series holds significance not only for the immediate matches against Ireland but also as a part of the broader strategy leading up to the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA next year.

Also READ: England include two uncapped players in their T20I squad for the home series against New Zealand