Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t share any deadline for the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s return to international cricket. Reacting to the news of the pacer being ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025, he also said that the medical staff would be the best people to share the update on him as well. However, Bumrah sustained a back spasm during the final Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Sydney. He also didn’t bowl at all on the last day of the series, where he claimed up 32 wickets as well.
At the press conference on Wednesday, after India’s 3-0 ODI series win over England, Gambhir said (as quoted by NDTV): “Obviously, he has been ruled out. But all the details, I can’t give you because it’s up to the medical team to talk about that how long is he going to be out for and stuff because it’s the medical team that decides at NCA. Obviously we wanted him desperately. We know that what he can do, he’s a world-class player. But then again, some things are not in your hands. So it’s an opportunity for some of the young guys, like Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, to put their hands up and do something for the country.”
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“Sometimes these are the opportunities which you’re looking for. And Harshit has been brilliant throughout the series. He’s taken some important wickets. We all know what Arshdeep can deliver. So, yes, Bumrah will always be a miss. But having someone like Mohammad Shami back with his experience is always good,” he again shared.
However, Shreyas Iyer was one of the key performers for India in the 3-0 ODI series triumph against England as well. Meanwhile, after the first ODI in Nagpur, he revealed that he came in the playing XI as Virat Kohli got injured. While statement surprised many fans and experts.
Gambhir, though, downplayed that and shaed his views on that as well.
“Shreyas Iyer is an important player for us. He was not going to be benched for the entire series. Just that we thought we shall give a chance to Jaiswal in the first ODI, as he was in good form. I know just one game wasn’t enough, but we thought we shall give him one chance. As for Shreyas, he was never going to be benched for the full series. He is a very important in middle order. Good he ended up playing all three games,” Gautam Gambhir concluded.
