Bumrah to test fitness in Eng ODIs
India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is likely to play in the third and final ODI on February 12 in Ahmedabad to assess his match fitness ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
India's selectors and team management remain hopeful that the plan will work, ensuring Bumrah is ready for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
He was named in India's 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy, but with an asterisk next to his name, indicating that his inclusion is contingent on his fitness.
Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, confirmed that, according to information from the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) medical team, the right-arm pacer would not be fit for the first two ODIs against England, scheduled for February 6 and 9.
The right-arm pacer had been sidelined due to back spasms that prevented him from bowling on the final day of the Sydney Test.
"With Bumrah, we are waiting to hear about his fitness and when he's likely to be available," Agarkar said.
"At the moment, I don't think he [Bumrah] is likely to be fit for the first couple of games [of the England series], at least from what we gather. We will probably hear more in the next week or so about his fitness," he added.
To cover for Bumrah, Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana will be part of the squad for the England series.
Although Rana made his Test debut in Australia during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he is yet to play in ODIs or T20Is.
The 31-year-old's fitness has been a concern since he briefly left the ground during the second day of the Sydney Test due to back spasms. His condition raised alarms when he did not bowl the following day, although he had batted in India's second innings.
Based on advice from medical experts, the BCCI decided to give Bumrah a minimum of five weeks of rest after the Sydney Test, which concluded on January 5.
After this period, he will undergo another scan to assess if he can return to action. Agarkar confirmed this timeline.
"I know he was asked to offload for five weeks of bowling, which is early in the first week of February, if I'm not wrong," Agarkar said.
"And we'll probably find out a bit more around that time about what exactly is going on with his medical condition. I'm sure the BCCI might just put something out from the physio itself. It's better it comes from the medical department than me trying to explain what exactly is wrong with him. But that's the time frame that we've been told. And hopefully, he's okay after that."
When asked if the selectors had considered a backup plan in case Bumrah doesn't recover in time for the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19, Agarkar replied, "We are just hoping Bumrah is fit. If he isn't, we will discuss it at that time."
It is pertinent to mention that India on Saturday unveiled its 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, as well as the much-anticipated Champions Trophy 2025, set to take place in Pakistan and the UAE.
The squad was officially revealed during a press conference by Indian captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
The eight-team tournament, comprised of 15 matches, will run from February 19 to March 9, across three venues – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in Pakistan and Dubai.
Hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the curtain raiser on February 19 in Karachi, while the blockbuster clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.
India's squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja
India's squad for ODI series vs England: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.