Sun Jan 19 01:34:37 UTC 2025: **Bumrah’s Injury Clouds India’s Champions Trophy Prospects**
MUMBAI, January 18, 2025 – India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been included in the 15-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy despite injury concerns. The selection committee chairman, Ajit Agarkar, expressed hope for Bumrah’s recovery but acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his participation in the tournament, starting February 19th. No backup has been named for Bumrah, who has been advised two weeks of rest by the BCCI medical team.
Bumrah will miss the upcoming T20Is and the first two ODIs against England. His availability for the final ODI on February 12th will depend on his fitness. Harshit Rana has been added as cover for the ODI series. Agarkar stated that further updates on Bumrah’s condition are expected in the coming weeks, potentially following scans scheduled for early February. The exact nature of Bumrah’s injury remains undisclosed.
In Bumrah’s absence, Shubman Gill will deputize for Rohit Sharma in the ODIs. The squad also includes Mohammed Shami, returning from injury, and Arshdeep Singh, who was preferred over Mohammed Siraj. The decision to select only three seamers was justified by both Agarkar and Captain Rohit Sharma as a strategic move to maximize all-rounder capabilities within the squad. Sharma also addressed recent reports of friction between himself and head coach Gautam Gambhir, stating that there is complete trust between them. Bumrah’s absence would be a significant blow to India; he recently earned the Player of the Series award in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking 32 wickets.
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