Final Decision On Jasprit Bumrah’s ICC Champions Trophy Availability
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Bumrah Ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy
Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy owing to a lower back injury he sustained in January while participating in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia last month. Bumrah’s absence from the Champions Trophy marks the second ICC event he will miss after being forced to sit out the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia due to the same injury.
While the 31-year-old was still in recovery, he had initially been included in India’s provisional squad for the upcoming tournament. However, on February 11, the Board of Control for Cricket in India made the official announcement that Bumrah would not be able to participate in the competition due to his ongoing injury concerns. This decision came after careful evaluation of the paceman’s fitness, as team management opted to err on the side of caution to avoid risking his long-term health. The BCCI’s official statement read:
“Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The Men’s Selection Committee has brought in Harshit Rana as his replacement.”
Indeed, following the decision to leave Bumrah out, Harshit Rana was summoned to join the Men in Blue for the upcoming tournament. In a press conference following India’s dominant 3-0 ODI series victory over England on February 12, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the absence of Bumrah from the squad, while also acknowledging the impact that the fast bowler has had on the team over the years.
Gambhir admitted that filling the void left by one of India’s most reliable pacemen would be challenging but expressed confidence in the depth of his squad noting that Bumrah’s absence would allow the likes of Rana and Arshdeep Singh to step up and make an impact. The former Indian batsman-turned-coach also noted the positive return of Mohammed Shami to the team following injury, adding that his experience would be invaluable.
Notably, the Indian selection team also made a late move to omit Yashashvi Jaiswal from the squad, replacing him with mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has burst onto the scene in the last 12 months. Jaiswal, along with Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube have been named as non-travelling substitutes. There was speculation that Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav would be switched but the selectors have now opted to retain the duo.
Bumrah is just one of several high-profile players who have been forced to miss out on the upcoming Champions Trophy. Other big names that will not feature at the event include the Australian quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis and Josh Hazlewood. England will have to make do without the services of Jacob Bethell and South Africa are missing fast bowler Gerald Coetzee. Afghanistan are set to enter the competition without young superstar Allah Ghazanfar and the host nation Pakistan will defend their title without Saim Ayub.
