Bumrah's Champions Trophy Fate to Be Decided Today

By siliconindia  |  Tuesday, 11 February 2025, 10:19:31 AM IST

Bumrah’s Champions Trophy Fate to Be Decided Today
Jasprit Bumrah's suitability for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 could be determined on Tuesday - the last date for sending in teams. The star Indian pacer has not been available since the last Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a back injury.
Bumrah, India's standout performer in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was forced to withdraw mid-match in Sydney in early January after experiencing back pain. Since then, he has not played any competitive cricket. Though he was named in India's squad for the third ODI against England in Ahmedabad on Wednesday and included in the provisional Champions Trophy squad, his participation remains uncertain.
According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Bumrah recently underwent a back scan at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The medical staff will now provide details to the selectors and team management, who are expected to make a final decision by Tuesday.
If Bumrah is out, young pacer Harshit Rana is believed to be in line to take his place. Tuesday is the last day of the window to make changes in the squads that do not attract the attention of the ICC. Any changes thereafter would require permission from the tournament's technical committee.
According to a PTI report, the Indian team management is ready to wait till the eleventh hour to decide on Bumrah's availability. "Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach Rajnikanth Sivagnanam and physio Thulasi Ram Yuvraj are closely monitoring his rehabilitation, under the supervision of Dr. Nitin Patel, Head of Sports Science. National team S&C coach Soham Desai and physio Kamlesh Jain are also being kept updated", a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying.
In case he doesn't recover in time, it will be quite a setback to India, who have desperately been looking to put up a strong show after a series of disappointing results following their T20 World Cup victory last year.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri drove home the point of Bumrah: "If Bumrah is not fit, India's chances of winning the Champions Trophy drop by 30-35 per cent. With a fully fit Bumrah, you are assured of those crucial death overs. It would have been a completely different ball game".
With only hours before the final team announcement, it is still watch and wait at the Indian camp as the selectors ponder their final decision on India's ace pacer.

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