Former India player Aakash Chopra has suggested two names in the Indian team’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad if Jasprit Bumrah is
unavailable. He also added that the Indian team would not seem ready if Harshit Rana was the only addition as Bumrah’s replacement.
The 2025 Champions Trophy will take place in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 onwards as well. Apart from Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh are the two seamers in India’s provisional 15-member squad for the tournament as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “India will have to change the entire goalpost if Bumrah isn’t there. They will have to make a solid pivot and it’s good if they do that because if they don’t and become adamant that the team would be ready if they only keep Harshit for Bumrah, would we be really ready?”

ALSO READ: “I think Virat Kohli is the only option” – AB de Villiers backs Kohli as RCB captain for IPL 2025

“It just doesn’t feel ready. It seems like the coat hasn’t come when you have to go to a wedding. It’s a feeling like that. I feel a lot of options will get opened up if Bumrah isn’t there. One will be that Harshit Rana will automatically come into the team,” Chopra added. “However, that will not solve the problem because Bumrah and Harshit Rana are not like-for-like replacements. We were told Harshit Rana is Shivam Dube’s like-for-like replacement. Jasprit Bumrah cannot be Shivam Dube’s like-for-like replacement.”

In the same video, Aakash Chopra also urged India to include Mohammed Siraj as the fourth pacer in their 2025 Champions Trophy squad if Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable as well.

“The Indian team can actually think about taking another fast bowler. They should bring Mohammed Siraj into the team. India should go with four fast bowlers. They should rectify the mistake they had committed,” he concluded.