In a big blow for India, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to miss the group stage matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to fitness issues. According to The Indian Express, Bumrah has swelling om his back and has been asked to report to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for the recovery purpose ahead of the global tournament in Pakistan and the UAE. The Champions Trophy will be competed among the top eight teams in the world from February 19.
The national selectors have been updated about the current status of the speedster and the BCCI has sought an extension to announce the team for the Champions Trophy.
Selectors are considering whether they should pick Bumrah in the main squad or add him to the list of travelling reserves. The BCCI will announce a provisional squad for the event. As changes can be made till February 12, the selectors can monitor Bumrah’s recovery.
According to a BCCI source, the best fast bowler in the world is expected to regain full fitness by the first week of March. “Bumrah will report to the NCA for his rehabilitation. He doesn’t have a fracture but there is swelling om his back. He will remain under observation for three weeks but even after that, he will have to play a couple of practice matches to prove his fitness,” said the source.
India’s first match is against Bangladesh on February 20. The sub-continent team will take on Pakistan on February 23 before clashing with New Zealand on March 2. India will play all its matches in Dubai due to security reasons. The two semi-finals are scheduled on March 4 and 5, and the final on March 9.
In the recently concluded Test series in Australia, Bumrah picked up 32 wickets and was named the player of the series . He was injured midway through the final Test in Sydney.
Bumrah was out of action for almost a year due to back surgery in 2022 and 2023. The selectors and the team management have been managing his workload. He has been rested several times in the past.
In Australia, Bumrah bowled 151.2 overs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at an average of 13.06 and a strike rate of 28.3.
Comments are closed.