Jasprit Bumrah's road back to India's T20I side has taken an intriguing turn, with the fast bowler experimenting with a significantly longer run-up during training ahead of the Afghanistan series.
Bumrah was back in India training on Friday evening after another spell on the sidelines, but rather than simply easing back into his familiar rhythm, the 32-year-old spent much of his bowling session repeatedly changing his approach to the crease.
The India fast bowler is expected to feature in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan if he is deemed fit enough, but his latest training session suggested there is still some fine-tuning to be done before he returns to international cricket.
Bumrah Experiments With Unusually Long Run-Up
Bumrah's trademark bowling action has been refined over the past decade, with his distinctive shuffle, short approach and explosive delivery stride becoming one of the most recognisable actions in world cricket.
On Friday, however, he repeatedly altered that formula.
During an extended spell in the nets, Bumrah used a remarkably long run-up, at times appearing to run in from roughly a third farther away than usual.
Three markers were placed on the ground to help structure the approach. A black bottle marked the starting point, a red bottle indicated his leap, while an India cap sat between the two to mark the point where he transitioned from a slower saunter into his running approach.
The extended version consisted of ten walking steps followed by 16 quicker steps before Bumrah moved into his trademark delivery action.
He shortened and lengthened the run-up several times during the session, suggesting he was still searching for the rhythm that felt most natural.
Why Bumrah's Run-Up Is Under Scrutiny
The experimentation comes after a difficult period for Bumrah in 2026.
He helped India win the T20 World Cup at home in March but endured a below-par IPL campaign, taking only four wickets for Mumbai Indians at an average of 102.50.
A recurrence of a left knee injury then forced him to miss an ODI in England and two Tests in Sri Lanka.
After rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Bumrah was declared fit and returned to India training.
His run-up had already been an area of discussion during the IPL, with Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene revealing that the bowler had encountered issues with his approach throughout the season.
Those problems contributed to several front-foot no-balls, which Jayawardene attributed to the build-up of Bumrah's delivery.
His latest experimentation therefore provides an interesting glimpse into the work being done behind the scenes as he prepares for another international comeback.
Bumrah Shows Promising Signs in the Nets
Despite the experimentation, Bumrah produced several encouraging moments during the session.
He bowled alongside Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy and tested his grip under the Delhi floodlights before beginning his work in the nets.
Using the extended run-up, he produced a full delivery outside off stump to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, tempting the batter into a drive before the ball angled away and took a thick outside edge.
Bumrah then troubled Sanju Samson around the stumps, yorked Shiv Dube and later kept Ishan Kishan quiet by repeatedly attacking the stumps before getting the ball to move away.
Interestingly, some of his best rhythm appeared to come when he reverted to his shorter, more familiar run-up.
There were moments when the extended approach looked less comfortable. Bumrah appeared to slow down during one delivery stride and aborted his run-up more than once before eventually returning to his usual action.
Bumrah's T20I Return Could Come Quickly
The timing of the session is significant.
India's T20I series against Afghanistan begins on Sunday, meaning Bumrah could potentially play three matches in just five days if he is cleared to return.
His training workload will therefore be closely watched as India assess his readiness.
For now, there is no confirmation that the longer run-up will become a permanent feature of Bumrah's bowling action. It may simply have been a training experiment designed to help him find his rhythm after another period away from the game.
What is clear is that Bumrah is continuing to work meticulously on his bowling as he edges closer to a return.
The India star's comeback may have taken a few more steps than expected, but his latest session showed that he is leaving little to chance as he attempts to get back to his best.
