Picture Credit: X
After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to extend the date for squad announcement, fresh developments come as a major blow to the Indian cricket team. According to the latest reports making rounds, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss group stage matches of 2025 Champions Trophy.
However, not much is known about his injury after he missed major part of the Sydney Test due to back spasms, he is likely to sit out due to some swelling. This comes after the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee met in Mumbai on Saturday, January 11 to announce the squad for the five-match T20I series against England, scheduled to kickstart from January 22 and learnt of Bumrah’s injury.
Jasprit Bumrah doubtful for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to back swelling
Sources close to the BCCI have further informed that Bumrah will report to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for his rehabilitation, where he will begin his recovery. “He (Bumrah) will be going to NCA for his rehabilitation. The initial report says he doesn’t have a fracture but has swelling on his back. So, the NCA will monitor his recovery and he will be there for three weeks. But even after that, he will have to play a match or two, even if they are practice games organised to check his match fitness,” the source stated, as quoted by The Indian Express.
The source further informed that Bumrah is anticipated to be fully fit by March, whereas a clarity on his inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad will be decided in a week’s time, given that there is still time to make changes into the side till the tournament. Additionally, if he gets fit, he is set to feature in the playoffs, which are scheduled to be played in March.
Speaking of Team India, the side has been placed in Group A alongside hosts Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. While they will kickstart their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by the highly-anticipated match against Pakistan scheduled for February 23. Their final group stage match is set to be held on march 2 against New Zealand, and if they proceed further, the knockouts are scheduled to begin from March 4 onwards.
