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India pace spearhead’s last one-day match was the final of the 2023 ICC Men’ ODI World Cup in Ahmedabad.
Jasprit Bumrah suffered back spasms towards the end of Australia tour. (AFP Photo)
Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been included in India men’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad. The pacer, who missed the last innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a back injury, will miss the upcoming white-ball series against England to continue his recovery but the BCCI is ‘hopeful’ he’ll be back soon.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, while announcing the squad in Mumbai on Saturday, had issued a detailed update on the pacer’s fitness.
“We have been waiting to hear back from the physios. From what we know so far, he was asked to offload bowling for five weeks, so we are probably looking at mid-February. We’ll find out in time. I don’t want to give any wrong updates and I am sure the BCCI will put something out soon. We have just been told a timeframe. We are very hopeful,” Agarkar said.
Bumrah raised concerns when he suffered back spasms during the fifth and final Test of India’s Australia tour earlier this month. Given the fast bowler’s history with back injuries, it left the team management sweating over his availability for the marquee event. It also raised fresh questions over his workload.
Bumrah was India’s top performer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which they lost 1-3. He took 32 wickets including three five-fors from five Tests at an average of 13.06.
India will take on England in a three-match ODI series beginning February 6 with the last contest to be held on February 12. All-rounder Harshit Rana will play this series in Bumrah’s absence.
Eight days after this series, the team will take on Bangladesh in Dubai in what will be their opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Bumrah’s last white-ball match for India was the final of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup while his last one-day cricket match at the international level was the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup final.
The 31-year-old has 149 wickets from 89 ODIs so far at an average of 23.55.
He recently broke his silence on his fitness status after reports emerged of him being advised bed rest and not to rush a competitive comeback.
“I know fake news is easy to spread but this made me laugh. Sources unreliable,” Bumrah posted on X recently.
