January 18, 2025: Ajit Agarkar, Chairman of the Men’s Selection Committee, provided an update on Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness during a press conference on Saturday, revealing that the pace spearhead is unlikely to be fit for the initial games of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Bumrah, who sustained an injury during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia, was advised to rest for at least five weeks by Australian medical experts after he did not bowl in the final innings of the match. Following this, Bumrah will undergo another scan to assess his recovery.
Agarkar confirmed that the team management is awaiting further updates on Bumrah’s condition, and for now, young seamer Harshit Rana will replace him in the ODI squad for the series against England. “With Jasprit Bumrah, we are waiting to hear about his fitness and when he is likely to be available, so Harshit Rana is going to be a part of the ODI squad against England right now,” Agarkar said.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to begin on February 19, and India’s campaign starts with a match against Bangladesh on February 20. The tournament, which runs until March 9, will be held in Pakistan and the UAE, with India playing its matches in Dubai. The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is set for February 23.