Every cricketer has to go through NCA, says Ganguly

Kolkata, Dec 21: BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Friday asserted that Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness evaluation will be done at the National Cricket Academy after it was speculated that the Rahul Dravid-led body is not keen to conduct the test in Bengaluru.

Bumrah is on his way to regaining fitness after being laid low by a stress fracture of the back. He recently bowled at India’s net practice ahead of the second ODI against the West Indies in Visakhapatnam.

“I am not aware of the issue. But Indian players will have to go back to NCA and we will make sure it’s comfortable and logistically easier,” Ganguly told reporters here.

He was responding to a report that Dravid had declined Bumrah’s request for a fitness test at the NCA.

It was said that the former India captain was miffed with Bumrah’s decision to undergo rehabilitation under private trainers instead of the ones from NCA.

The 26-year-old Bumrah, the No.1 ranked ODI bowler in the ICC list, has been training with IPL franchise Delhi Capitals’ trainer Rajnikanth Sivagnanam in Mumbai after recovering from the injury.

First and final point

“NCA has to be the first and final point for international cricketers. It’s a place for Indian cricketers. Everyone has to go through NCA,” asserted Ganguly.

“They play cricket all over the places year long. We will also try and see whether NCA physios can come and help Jasprit in Mumbai. We will keep the monitoring under NCA. We want to make sure there’s best people with NCA,” he added.

Ganguly recently visited NCA and held discussions with Dravid, who was appointed the head of cricket there in July this year.

“There’s huge hope from Rahul. He’s been a tremendous player. You will get perfection and commitment. We will sort it out,” he said.

“We have given Dravid the charge at the NCA to get it more organised. Ultimately we will extend his role.

I’ve spoken to him and the office-bearers. You will get to know the details in a week’s time,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday said he expects the Indian pace spearhead to feature in the upcoming limited-overs home assignments against Sri Lanka or Australia, early next year.

Asked about Bumrah’s progress, Jayawardene told reporters: “It’s good. He (Bumrah) has started training. He was in Visakhapatnam, bowling to the guys (Indian players). The Mumbai Indians staff is closely monitoring his progress,” he said. “Hardik Pandya too is making good progress. I am quite happy with their progress,” he said.