In what comes as a big setback for India ahead of their Asia Cup 2023 clash against Nepal, it is being reported that star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah will miss the team's Group-stage clash. The fixture is slated to be held on September 4 (Monday). Bumrah will miss the match due to personal reasons and has already returned to Mumbai. Meanwhile, media reports suggest that the Indian pacer will return to be with the team for the Super Four stages in case India manage to qualify for the same.

With Bumrah missing for the Nepal match, Mohammed Shami is likely to replace Bumrah in the side. Shami was picked by many as the first-choice player in the XI for the match against Pakistan but Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj being the management's preferred pace-bowling choices with the needle tilting in favour of Thakur because of his added batting advantage.

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As far as Bumrah is concerned, he did not get to bowl in the match against Pakistan as the rain-affected fixture ended without a result. India won the toss and elected to bat first at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on September 2 (Saturday) and were bowled out for 266 in 48.5 overs. Just when it was Bumrah's turn to lead the attack with the bowl in hand, it started to rain and ultimately not a single ball of the Pakistan innings was bowled.

However, Bumrah did play a useful knock with the bat. He chipped in with a useful cameo of 16 off 14 including three boundaries that helped the team add some invaluable runs lower down the order. Although trying to go for the big shot, he departed in the penultimate over and was the last man to depart.