Rohit Sharma waiting on Jasprit Bumrah's Test return

Bumrah has been sidelined by injury - and has not played international cricket since September 2022.

He has not been included in India's squad for the upcoming four-Test series against Australia.

"About Bumrah, I'm not too sure at the moment, of course for the first two Test matches he's not going to be available," said Sharma.

"I'm expecting that; not expecting but hoping he plays the next two Test matches but again we don't want to take any risk with him. 

The back injuries are always critical. We have got lot of cricket coming up after that as well, we will see, and we will monitor. We are in constant touch with doctors and physios at National Cricket Academy and we are constantly hearing from them."

India head coach Rahul Dravid, meanwhile, has praised Sharma after this week's ODI century against New Zealand. Sharma struck 101 as the hosts completed a three-nil series win in Indore.

"He has been a phenomenal cricketer, and I think he obviously started off as this really precocious talent. I remember seeing him for the first time when he was 17 or 18 - he just came out of Under-19s - and you could see that you're looking at something slightly different here," said Dravid.

"And he has gone on to prove that. You look at a lot of kids who look different at 19 but not all of them go onto actually achieve their potential.

"What Rohit has done over the last 15 years I think now has actually changed his potential and he's been a great servant for Indian cricket and has done really well.

"Maybe, like you said, the turning point was when ten years ago he got the opportunity to finally open. And really his hallmark has obviously been his performances in ICC tournaments, like we said in 2019, but also his ability to score big runs when he gets going.

"Someone who has got three double-tons in this format is an absolutely phenomenal achievement."