India will enter the 2025 Champions Trophy without their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a shoulder injury at BCCI’s Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. Given his immense contribution since returning from a long injury layoff in August 2023, his absence is a significant blow to the team’s bowling attack.

Bumrah has been India’s ace in all forms. He led their authoritative run to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, claimed Player of the Tournament honours for the 2024 T20 World Cup champions, India, and was the top wicket-taker in the just-completed Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. His skills with the ball, especially during pressured situations, made him inseparable from his team.

While India toured Australia, Bumrah started to develop back spasms, which eventually kept him out of the Champions Trophy, which will commence next week. Former India skipper and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar was impressed by Bumrah’s contribution, noting that his loss will be greatly felt.

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“It will be a matter of how we bowl. Bumrah will be missed. He is a world-class bowler, and in ODIs, where a bowler gets 10 overs to contribute, he is priceless. He’s so good with the new ball, the old ball, and with death overs—He’s a master,” Dilip Vengsarkar said in an interview to The Times of India.

Without Bumrah, India’s pace attack will be spearheaded by the veteran Mohammed Shami, who has returned from a lengthy injury layoff with his recent international comeback. He will have Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana as his supporting cast. Though Arshdeep has established himself in T20Is, he has played only nine ODIs, whereas Rana is yet to find his footing at the international level. With such a young pace unit, India’s fast-bowling unit seems vulnerable.

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Dilip Vengsarkar, nonetheless, thinks that it is a golden chance for others to prove themselves. “I would like those in the squad to take the chance and make their presence felt at this level. Bowling will prove to be the decisive factor,” he said.

India will begin their Champions Trophy journey on February 20 with Bangladesh in Dubai in their first Group A match.