India suffered a major setback ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the tournament due to a lower back injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the news on Tuesday (February 11), announcing that young pacer Harshit Rana will replace Bumrah in the squad.
Bumrah’s Injury Setback
Bumrah, who played a crucial role in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia, had captained the team in the final Test at Sydney. However, he was forced to leave the field midway on Day 2 due to a back injury and did not bowl for the rest of the match.
Initially, Bumrah was named in India’s squad for the third ODI against England, subject to fitness. However, his recovery took longer than expected, leading to his withdrawal from the Champions Trophy squad. The recurrence of a back issue raises concerns, as the Indian team management has been cautious with his workload in the past to avoid aggravating his injury.
Harshit Rana Steps In
In Bumrah’s absence, the selectors have placed their faith in Harshit Rana, a rising fast bowler who has impressed in domestic and international cricket. The 22-year-old made his international debut in November 2024 during the Border-Gavaskar series and has quickly made a name for himself. He has played two Tests, two ODIs, and a T20I so far, achieving the rare feat of picking up at least three wickets on debut in each format.
His ability to generate pace and bounce, along with his aggressive approach, has earned him a place in the squad. While replacing a bowler of Bumrah’s caliber is a huge challenge, Rana’s potential makes him an exciting addition to India’s pace attack.
Varun Chakaravarthy Replaces Yashasvi Jaiswal
Apart from Bumrah’s replacement, the Indian selectors made another change to the squad, bringing in spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in place of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Chakaravarthy’s selection comes after an impressive performance in the recent T20I series against England, where he finished as the highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps in five matches. His strong showing earned him a call-up to the ODI squad, where he made his debut in the second match against England, returning figures of 1-54.
Jaiswal, on the other hand, has been moved to the list of non-travelling substitutes along with Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. The trio will be available as backups and will travel to Dubai if required.
India’s Champions Trophy Campaign
India is placed in Group A of the eight-team tournament, alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Their campaign begins on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by a much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on February 23. Their final group-stage match is scheduled for March 2 against New Zealand, with all three games set to be played in Dubai.
With the tournament featuring the best teams in the world, India will rely on a balanced squad comprising experienced players and fresh talent. The absence of Bumrah is a significant blow, but the inclusion of Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy provides the team with new options ahead of the high-stakes competition.
Final India Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Shubman Gill (Vice-captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (WK)
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Varun Chakaravarthy
While the absence of Bumrah will undoubtedly test India’s bowling attack, the team still boasts a formidable squad capable of competing at the highest level. As the countdown to the Champions Trophy begins, all eyes will be on India’s preparations and how they adapt to these last-minute changes.
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