In a massive blow to India's plans for the Champions Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the showpiece event. The star pacer is yet to recover fully from a back injury, which he picked up during the Border Gavaskar Trophy Sydney Test. Initially, the pacer was named in India's 15-member provisional squad as one of the three pacers. Eventually, the doctors ruled out the possibility of Bumrah bowling full tilt during the global event. Harshit Rana will replace Bumrah in the CT squad.
According to ESPNcricinfo reports, Bumrah's latest scans, which he underwent in NCA in Bengaluru did not reveal a major injury, but it is understood that the 31-year-old is not entirely ready to bowl yet. This is the second ICC event which the pacer will miss after having missed the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Replacing Bumrah is a tough ask, but Rana has now been entrusted with the task. The youngster made his ODI debut in the first game against England and picked up three wickets.
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Although Rana was whacked for 26 runs in his first spell by Phillip Salt, the Delhi pacer bounced back strongly by bagging three wickets, which helped India bundle out England for 248. Apart from Rana, India also had the option to fall back on Mohammed Siraj, but the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel opted to go with young gun Rana instead.
Varun Chakravarthy replaces Jaiswal in Champions Trophy Squad
Meanwhile, mystery spinner, Chakravarthy has replaced Yashasvi Jaiswal in the CT squad. The left-hand hand batter was initially been named in the provisional squad, but now has been named as one of the three non-traveling reserves along with Shivam Dube and Siraj.
India's squad for the Champions Trophy
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vice-capt), 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 Chakravarthy
Non-travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube
