By The Sampadak Express
In a major update on India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed late on Tuesday that Jasprit Bumrah, the pace spearhead of the Indian cricket team, has been ruled out of the tournament due to a lingering back injury. The decision came after a prolonged period of uncertainty over the status of Bumrah’s fitness. Despite efforts to recover, the 31-year-old pacer has not been able to regain full fitness in time for the prestigious tournament.
Harshit Rana Replaces Bumrah in the Squad
In a significant shake-up to India’s bowling lineup, the BCCI announced that 23-year-old fast bowler Harshit Rana would replace Bumrah in the final 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy. Rana, who made his ODI debut during India’s series against England, has been a promising talent and was selected based on his recent form. In his two ODI appearances so far, he has taken four wickets, showcasing his potential at the international level.
BCCI confirmed this change through an official statement, which read, “Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement.”
Varun Chakaravarthy Replaces Yashasvi JaiswalIn another surprise development, young opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal was dropped from the final squad despite his impressive performances in the 2024 season. Jaiswal, who was India’s top run-scorer across formats in 2024, had been included in the provisional squad but was left out of the final 15. The talented mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who had been performing exceptionally well in T20Is, especially during the series against England, has been named as Jaiswal’s replacement.
Chakaravarthy had an outstanding T20I series, claiming 14 wickets in five matches and was named the ‘Player of the Series,’ forcing his way into the Champions Trophy squad. His inclusion bolsters India’s spin department, offering a unique option with his mystery spin.
Despite being an integral part of India’s Test cricket setup, Jaiswal has only played one ODI so far, and most of his runs have come in the longer format of the game. His omission from the squad reflects the team’s strategy to prioritize a balanced mix of players with the right skill set for the Champions Trophy.
India’s Non-Traveling Substitutes
In addition to the changes in the squad, the BCCI also named three non-traveling substitutes. These players, in case of any injuries during the tournament, will be on standby and will travel to Dubai if required. The substitutes are Yashasvi Jaiswal, pacer Mohammed Siraj, and all-rounder Shivam Dube. These players will remain on call to step in should any member of the squad face injury issues.
India’s Final Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Rohit Sharma (Captain)
Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)
Hardik Pandya
Axar Patel
Washington Sundar
Kuldeep Yadav
Harshit Rana
Mohammed Shami
Arshdeep Singh
Ravindra Jadeja
Varun Chakaravarthy
Non-Traveling Substitutes:
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Mohammed Siraj
Shivam Dube
Bumrah’s Injury Woes
Jasprit Bumrah’s injury saga began during India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where he sustained a back injury. Bumrah had initially been advised a five-week rest period by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, in the hopes that he would be fit for the Champions Trophy. However, despite rehabilitation efforts, the pacer could not recover in time to be part of the final squad. His absence marks a huge blow to India’s pace attack, as Bumrah has been one of the team’s most reliable bowlers across formats for several years.
The BCCI’s announcement of Bumrah’s exclusion and the changes to India’s Champions Trophy squad signal a shift in strategy. With a mix of experienced players and rising stars like Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy, India will look to adjust to the absence of their ace fast bowler while maintaining a potent squad for the upcoming tournament.
