Indian speed pacer missed the league game against Nepal because he had to travel back to India for birth of his first child.
After taking a temporary break from his Asia Cup responsibilities in order to attend to the birth of his first child, Jasprit Bumrah has rejoined the Indian team. Just in time for India's first Super 4 game against Pakistan on Sunday, he arrived in Colombo early on Friday. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has just announced a reserve day for the upcoming crucial game, and he arrives at the same time.
Due to the persistently terrible weather in Colombo, the ACC chose well to reserve a day for the match on Sunday. If the game is postponed on the scheduled day due to inclement weather, it will resume on Monday. The final will have a backup day in case of rain, while the subsequent Super 4 matches do not have reserve days due to back-to-back games.
Bumrah missed India's second league game against Nepal on September 4 since he departed Sri Lanka right after India's first game against Pakistan on September 2. His return, though, precisely coincides with the team's first Super 4 game.
Bumrah will take part in the team's practise at the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday night. The Indian team may have to practise indoors, like they did on Thursday, due to the anticipated bad weather, unless, as has been the recent tendency, the weather clears up later in the evening. Since Friday morning (at the time of posting), Colombo has fortunately been dry, which gives hope for a fruitful practise session this evening.
The forecast for the upcoming week is not particularly encouraging, as Colombo is predicted to have significant rainfall, with a 90% likelihood of rain on Sunday. This explains why the ACC chose to schedule a reserve day for such a significant game. You may remember that the India-Pakistan league game had to be called off owing to rain.
There is an 85% chance of precipitation on Saturday during Sri Lanka's second Super 4 game versus Bangladesh. As the championship moves into its crucial stage, the weather is expected to play a key influence.
India will play Sri Lanka on September 12 and Bangladesh three days later, on September 15, after their match against Pakistan on Sunday. On September 14, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play in the final Super 4 game before the championship game on September 17. The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will serve as the venue for all of these contests.