Jasprit Bumrah reaches Bengaluru for injury assessment, participation in Champions Trophy dependent on outcome: Report

India’s premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, arrived in Bengaluru on Sunday evening for a crucial injury assessment under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. The 31-year-old pacer is set to undergo scans and further evaluations at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), with his participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy hinging on the results of these tests.

Bumrah’s Champions Trophy participation in doubt?

As reported earlier by Times of India, Bumrah was initially named in India’s squad for the multi-nation Champions Trophy tournament, set to take place later this month. However, the decision on his inclusion will depend on the findings of the assessments conducted at the NCA this week. Bumrah is India’s main pacer, and if the test results are not favorable, the team could be forced to compete in the marquee ICC tournament without him.

Bumrah is expected to remain in Bengaluru for at least two to three days while NCA’s medical team closely monitors his condition. Following the assessments, the medical team will submit their observations to the senior men’s selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, who will make the final call on Bumrah’s fitness and participation.

The injury concerns surrounding Bumrah have been an ongoing issue for some time now. During a press conference in Mumbai last month, Ajit Agarkar had confirmed that the pacer was instructed to “off-load for five weeks” after the Sydney Test in January. This recovery period meant that Bumrah would miss the first two ODIs against England. Agarkar had further revealed that the clarity on his fitness would come by early February, with the BCCI medical team providing detailed reports on his condition.

“Bumrah has been told to off-load for five weeks after and he won’t be available for the first two ODIs against England. We are waiting on his fitness and will know his status in early February from the medical team. We’ll probably find out a bit more around that time, what exactly, and with regards to what his medical condition is, I’m sure BCCI might just put something out, from the physio itself,” Agarkar had said at the time.

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin in Pakistan and the UAE on 19 February, with India scheduled to play their opening match against Bangladesh on 20 February. If Bumrah’s test results are not favorable, the Indian selectors will need to choose a replacement and notify the International Cricket Council (ICC) before the deadline. Harshit Rana, who has been named in India’s ODI squad for the series against England, could be called up as Bumrah’s replacement.