India coach Rahul Dravid is “hopeful” that injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could still make this month’s T20 World Cup.

Bumrah missed Wednesday’s opening T20I series win over the Proteas and is under medical supervision for a stress fracture of the back.

Indian media have said the 28-year-old’s withdrawal from the Australia tournament was a certainty, but Dravid said a final decision had not yet been reached.

“As of now officially he is only ruled out for this series but we will see what happens over the next few days,” Dravid told reporters. “Obviously till he is officially ruled out, we will always be hopeful, not just as a team but also for Jasprit as an individual.”

India begin their World Cup campaign in three weeks and Bumrah’s absence would be a blow to their prospects of winning the showpiece event.

Bumrah played two T20Is against Australia recently but was not at his best, having already spent time on the sidelines.

India have missed Bumrah’s death-bowling expertise.

He has played 30 Tests, 72 ODIs and 60 T20Is for India since making his international debut in January 2016.

India’s final two matches against South Africa are on Sunday and Tuesday, also at home.

Their World Cup campaign begins on 23 October in Melbourne against arch-rivals Pakistan.

© Agence France-Presse