Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing 1st T20I between India and South Africa?

Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing 1st T20I between India and South Africa? The India vs South Africa three-match T20I series starts today at Thiruvananthpuram?s Greenfield International Stadium. The first T20I is currently underway and Indian bowlers have left the visitors in complete tatters following a sensational opening bowling spell from Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh.

While there were appreciations for Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar due to their fiery opening spell, people noticed that team India missed the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar from the playing11.

The omission of both the senior pacers becomes more confusing because team India has also rested senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the T20I series.?

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a press release confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah complained of a niggle owing to which he has been rested for the match. With T20 World Cup 2022 just around the corner, the management can not take unnecessary risks with Bumrah.

"Jasprit Bumrah complained of back pain during India's practice session on Tuesday. The BCCI Medical Team assessed him. He is ruled out of the first T20I." read the tweet from BCCI.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma during the toss informed that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested after the previous series. 

?Hardik and Bhuvi are rested from the last series. Pant and Arshdeep come in for them. Bumrah had a niggle in the morning so he misses out,? said Rohit Sharma after winning the toss.

ALSO READ: India VS South Africa ODI Series: Sanju Samson likely to be Vice Captain, Rajat Patidar to Get National Call Up. ?

India vs South Africa 1st T20I:

Meanwhile, team India are in the driver?s seat in the ongoing T20I against South Africa. Young Indian pacers Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh blew away South Africa?s top order with their controlled swinging deliveries and reduced Proteas to mere 30 runs in five wickets loss at the end of the powerplay.

As I write this article, South Africa have managed to recover slightly from the early shock. At the end of 17 overs, SA have managed to score 79 runs in the loss of seven wickets. Keshav Maharaj is unbeaten at 23 runs while Kagiso Rabada has just arrived and scored 2 runs.

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup 2022: Australia Schedule, Squad, Venue, Fixture, Dates, Best Playing XI, Players to Watch out for & Winning Prediction