 "Jasprit Bumrah: Fresh report questions his participation in Champions Trophy 2025, 'It will be a miracle'")
Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025 now hinges on his upcoming assessment by orthopedic surgeon Dr Rowan Schouten in New Zealand. Schouten is the same doctor who operated on Bumrah in 2023 for a back injury.
The New Zealand doctor will now assess Bumrah’s back spasm issue which forced him to miss the second innings of the Sydney Test earlier this month in Australia.
‘Will be a miracle if Bumrah turns up 100% fit’
The BCCI is also planning a consultation visit for Bumrah to New Zealand depending on the doctor’s assessment, a report in the Times of India said. The report stated that the board is also working on finding a backup for Bumrah for the Champions Trophy 2025 as the chances of him getting ready in time are very slim.
“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,” a BCCI source told the Times of India.
“The reports will be shared with his doctor in New Zealand. Sending Bumrah to New Zealand will depend on the feedback. The board and Bumrah himself are not willing to push hard given his significance over a long period of time,” the source said.
The BCCI selectors will be informed of Bumrah’s availability only if he is 100% fit.
“The selectors will only be informed if he is ready to take the field after the entire process is complete. The selectors will need to keep a backup plan ready for him. It will be a miracle if Bumrah makes it,” the source added.
Siraj or Rana as Bumrah’s replacement?
The Indian cricket board would not want to rush Bumrah’s return as a similar experiment before the 2022 T20 World Cup forced the 31-year-old bowler to sit out of the ICC event.
Besides Champions Trophy 2025, Bumrah has also been picked in the ODI squad for the England series. He is expected to join the team only for the third and final ODI on 12 February. Harshit Rana will be his replacement in the first T20 ODIs against England.
Impact Shorts
View AllIt will be interesting to see if Rana continues to be Bumrah’s replacement if the senior pacer is ruled out of the Champions Trophy or Mohammed Siraj is called back.
India can make changes to their Champions Trophy 2025 squad till 11 February.
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