"Sometimes you have to respect your body" - Jasprit Bumrah gives crucial update on fitness after BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Team India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah opened up on not bowling on the decisive Day 3 of the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. With the 31-year-old suffering a back spasm, he underlined the need to respect his body but rued not bowling on a spicy wicket.

Bumrah left the venue after the lunch session to go for scans on Day 2 of the fifth Test and bowled only ten overs in the first innings. After the day's play, fellow pacer Prasidh Krishna confirmed their attack leader's injury and he didn't bowl in the fourth innings. With Bumrah absent, Australia coasted towards their 162-run target without plenty of trouble and won the series 3-1.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Bumrah, who won the Player of the series award, stated that it's hard to fight what your body says.

"A little frustrating but sometimes you have to respect your body, and you can't fight your body. Sometimes you have to accept. Would have loved to bowl on the spiciest wicket of the series. Just had a little discomfort after the first innings."

When asked about the chat before Australia's innings began, the 31-year-old said all he encouraged them to do was maintain their belief.

The chatter was about belief. The other bowlers stepped up in the first innings as well. This morning the chat was also about belief. Lots of ifs and buts. The whole series was well fought. Today also we were there. It was a well-fought series.

The right-arm speedster finished the series with 32 wickets in five Tests, taking five-wicket hauls in Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. However, his workload was heavy in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, leading to him breaking down mid-series.

"It was great series and congratulations to Australia" - Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah. (Image Credits: Getty)

The No.1 ranked Test bowler also lauded the youngsters for standing up to tough situations and hopes to take all the learnings well moving forward. He added:

"A lot of experience and learnings. A lot of the younger players have come in, and the learnings will help us in future. They have gained a lot of experience and they will go from strength to strength. It is all about adapting and learning. We will want to take the learnings forward. It was great series and congratulations to Australia. We will regroup and go forward from here."

The 3-1 series victory for Australia also meant that they sealed a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and will face South Africa.