New Delhi: In a major setback for Team India, star pacer Jasprit Bumrah faces a race against time to be fit for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting in Pakistan on February 19. The ace speedster sustained a back injury during the fifth Test between India and Australia Test in Sydney earlier this January and could not bowl in the second innings of the SCG Test, which the home side won by 6 wickets to wrap up the series 3-1.
Bumrah emerged as the lone warrior for India, picking up 32 wickets in the series and even leading India to the only win of the series. The star pacer didn’t find enough support from the rest of the bowling unit and being overburdened led to his injury.
Bumrah’s injury: Indian fans hope for a miracle
Bumrah, who was not picked for India’s white-ball home series against England, was expected to be for the Champions Trophy but a fresh report has revealed worrying details, suggesting that it would take a ‘miracle’ for India’s pace star to be fully fit for the tournament.
BCCI’s contingency plans for Bumrah’s absence
According to a Times Of India (TOI) report, Bumrah has been consulting Dr Rowan Schouten, a reputed orthopaedic surgeon in New Zealand. He is scheduled to visit New Zealand for further treatment ahead of the Champions Trophy but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants to have a backup plan as his chances of being 100% fit in time look bleak.
“The BCCI medical team is in touch with Schouten in New Zealand. The board had also planned a visit for Bumrah to New Zealand. But that hasn’t happened yet. The selectors know it will be a miracle if Bumrah turns up 100% fit in the given timeline,” TOI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
The report also revealed that Bumrah’s assessment will be shared with his doctor in New Zealand and a decision on his visit will depend on the feedback. The Indian Cricket Board is taking a cautious approach and doesn’t want to rush his recovery, considering his long-term importance.
Bumrah’s back injury issues forced him to miss the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and the Indian Premier League in 2023 due to rehabilitation.
Jasprit Bumrah’s back injury, sustained during the Australia-India Test series, casts doubt on his participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. A recent report suggests his recovery timeline is critical, making his participation uncertain. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
