Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian cricket team’s main fast bowler, has been ruled out of the forthcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy owing to a lower back ailment. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) verified the development on February 11, 2025.
During the last Test in Sydney last month, Bumrah, who was the top wicket-taker in the most recent Test series against Australia, suffered from back spasms. He has not reached the necessary levels of fitness to compete in the Champions Trophy, even after receiving treatment and rehabilitation.
Harshit Rana has been appointed by the BCCI to succeed Bumrah. In his two ODI matches against England earlier this month, Rana, a promising fast bowler, showed off his abilities by collecting four wickets.
Batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal has been replaced by spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in yet another roster change. Chakaravarthy recently took 14 wickets in five games during a T20 series against England, putting up an outstanding display.
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand are all in Group A for the Champions Trophy. The team’s campaign against Bangladesh is scheduled to start in Dubai on February 20. Among the notable players on the updated team are:
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Shubman Gill (vice-captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (WK)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Ravindra Jadeja
Non-Travelling substitutes:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal,
- Mohammed Siraj
- Shivam Dube.
The three players will travel to Dubai as and when required.
Bumrah plays a crucial role in all formats, thus his absence is definitely a big blow to India’s bowling assault. In anticipation of his quick return to the field, cricket fans and the cricket community will be closely monitoring his recuperation.