Photo via Hindustan Times

Jasprit Bumrah back at full tilt in India nets, tests Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as T20I return gathers pace

Jasprit Bumrah made a spirited return to action during India's training ahead of their opening T20I fixture facing Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Sidelined since July after sustaining a knee problem prior to the third ODI versus England—which also forced him out of a two-Test series in Sri Lanka—the fast bowler delivered an intensive 45-minute spell between 7:25pm and 8:10pm alongside Arshdeep Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

The practice included an engaging duel with teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who famously struck Bumrah for a first-ball maximum in the IPL earlier this season; across their exchanges, Bumrah beat the bat, nailed a yorker, strayed down leg thrice, and conceded a backfoot punch. Other batters including Sanju , , Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel also had hits in the nets, while bowling coach Morne Morkel missed his second straight gathering.