India will make a final decision on Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the Champions Trophy on February 11, the deadline for submitting final squads to the ICC, as concerns about his fitness persist.
ESPNcricinfo has learned that Bumrah recently underwent a back scan at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The BCCI’s medical team will now consult with the selectors and the India team management before making a decision.
Bumrah was included in the provisional 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy announced on January 18, but he hasn’t featured in the ODI series against England, India’s last fixtures before the tournament begins on February 19. While there were hopes that he would play the third ODI in Ahmedabad, Bumrah has instead traveled to Bengaluru.
In January, when the provisional squad was announced, chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that, based on the BCCI medical team’s assessment, Bumrah was unlikely to be fit for the first couple of ODIs against England. He also noted that Bumrah had been asked to rest from bowling for five weeks, with fresh scans scheduled for early February.
Bumrah hasn’t played a match since being unable to bowl in Australia’s second innings during the Sydney Test in early January. It is believed he had a stress reaction in his back, requiring five weeks of rest.
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If Bumrah is deemed unfit for the Champions Trophy, he could be replaced by Harshit Rana, who featured in the first two ODIs against England. However, if there’s a possibility that Bumrah might be available later in the tournament, India could retain him in the squad and replace him later, subject to ICC approval. After February 11, any replacement will need approval from the tournament’s technical committee.
India is in Group A of the Champions Trophy, alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. They will play all their matches in Dubai after the Indian government denied permission for the team to travel to Pakistan, the official host. India’s campaign starts against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by matches against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2.
