Team India dealt with a major blow ahead of their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign as star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament. A final decision on Bumrah's availability was awaited on February 11 and the BCCI finally revealed that Bumrah will not make it to the tournament.
Bumrah was ruled out due to his long-standing back injury that he picked up during the Australia tour. Harshit Rana has been named as his replacement. In another major change, Varun Chakravarthy has been added to the squad while Yashasvi Jaiswal has been omitted. Bumrah's injury has been troubling him since the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series in Sydney. He took 32 wickets in the series and was named the Player Of The Series as well.
The BCCI finally released a statement after Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament. The statement also added that Harshit Rana was named as his replacement.
"Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement," the BCCI said in a release late night on Tuesday.
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Bumrah Ruled Out, Varun Added
Varun Chakravarthy's addition to the Indian Champions Trophy squad has been due to his brilliant performance in the recent T20I series against England. He picked 14 wickets in the series and the selectors felt that his good bowling form should be utilised. He also made his ODI debut against England in Cuttack picking up 1/54.
"Team India have also named Varun Chakaravarthy in the squad. The spinner will replace Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was initially named in the provisional squad,the release added. Jaiswal has been relegated to being among the non-travelling substitutes along with Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. The three players will travel to Dubai as and when required," the board said.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal has been added to the non-travelling reserves along with Shivam Dube and Mohammed Siraj. As of now, Arshdeep Singh and Mohd Shami are the only two pacers in the squad. After Varun's addition, India have now a five-man spin attack with Varun Chakravarthy alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.
India have previously won the Champions Trophy twice in 2002 and 2013. They lost the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy against Pakistan. India kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh (February 20) followed by Pakistan (February 23) and New Zealand (March 2). The Men in Blue will play all their matches in Dubai.
India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy, 2025: 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, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Non-traveling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. (Will travel to Dubai when required)
