A Sigh Of Relief As Jasprit Bumrah Likely To Be Selected For ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Squad

January 18, 2025: There are growing possibilities that Jasprit Bumrah, the right-arm fast bowler, could be included in India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, Bumrah’s inclusion will be contingent on his fitness, with his selection solely depending on whether he is fit to play.

Bumrah’s recent injury scare occurred during the final innings of the fifth and final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia in Sydney, where he didn’t bowl at all. After undergoing scans, Australian medical experts advised him not to participate further in the match. Based on this medical advice, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided that Bumrah should rest for at least five weeks, with a follow-up scan to be conducted after that period. The final decision on his participation will be made after assessing his fitness.

If Bumrah regains full fitness, his fitness test is expected to take place during the third and final ODI against England on February 12, just days before the final squad for the Champions Trophy is announced. The deadline for announcing the squad is February 11.

Bumrah’s remarkable contributions to India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earned him the Player of the Series award, cementing his reputation as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers. He took 32 wickets in five matches during the series at an exceptional average of 13.06, including three five-wicket hauls and a best of 6/76. He also achieved the milestone of 200 Test wickets, becoming the fourth-fastest player in history to reach the landmark, and the first to do so with an average under 20.

The BCCI’s chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, along with India captain Rohit Sharma, will announce the squads for the Champions Trophy and the ODI series against England at a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.

The ICC Champions Trophy will be held from February 19 to March 9, featuring eight teams in a hybrid model across Pakistan and UAE. India will play its matches in the UAE. The tournament’s fixtures include an eagerly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai. India will open its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, and their final group-stage match will be against New Zealand on March 2. Group A of the tournament includes India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B features Australia, Afghanistan, England, and South Africa.