Pacer Jasprit Bumrah will likely make it to India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 which begins in February.
According to reports, the injury he sustained during the fifth test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy is due to his workload and it is stress-related. The first round of tests made clear that he did not have any stress fracture in the back after bowling 151.2 overs in nine innings.
During the Australia tests, Jasprit Bumrah picked 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 and became the leading wicket-taker of the series. However, the report claimed that he will be included in the side, but his participation will be ‘subject to fitness’.
The report further added that ‘selectors want Bumrah to play at least one competitive match before the ICC event to asses his fitness and make a final decision.
Meanwhile it is reported that no place for Sanju Samson or Karun Nair in the squad. Nair was emerged as a suprise choice for the selectors after his stunning performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In 752 runs in 8 matches, he has been performing consistently in the competition including five centuries in seven innings. However, it is reported that ‘selectors feel that it would be unwise to recall Nair, who last represented India in 2017, just before a major tournament”.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson was named in India’s squad for for the England T20Is but is likely not to be considered for two series as he did not feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The report stated that the selectors were not happy with his absence amid BCCI’s push for national team players to feature in domestic competitions.
It was one fo the major guidelines included in BCCI’s 10-point diktat following the humilitating test series defeat against Australia.
The Men in Blues is set to play a five match T20I series and a three match ODI series on England tour of India before the ICC event.
The Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 with India playing their first match of the campaign against Bangladesh on Febaruary 20 at Dubai International Stadium.
