India’s cricket legend Kapil Dev has expressed his thoughts on the unfortunate injury to Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Bumrah, a key figure in India’s pace attack, has been ruled out of the tournament due to a lower back injury sustained during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney.
Jasprti Bumrah’s absence is a huge blow, especially considering his stellar performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 and his role as India’s best bowler during the Test series against Australia. Kapil Dev, however, remains confident in the team’s ability to cope with this setback.
Speaking at an event in Kolkata, he acknowledged Bumrah’s importance but stressed that the team’s success doesn’t depend on one player. “The performance doesn’t depend on one player, it depends on the team. If he’s not fit, it’s not good news, but the team is still there,” said Kapil Dev. He further urged the team to focus on putting their best foot forward, without dwelling on winning or losing.
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In Bumrah’s absence, pacer Harshit Rana has been called up as a replacement. Rana, who impressed during his ODI debut against England, will now have a chance to prove his mettle on the big stage.
The fast-bowling department will see Mohammed Shami leading the attack, with Arshdeep Singh and Rana battling for the other spots. The spin department will be equally competitive, with Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy vying for roles, while the spin-bowling all-rounders, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, add valuable depth to the squad.
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India’s campaign in the Champions Trophy will start on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai. The tournament will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. The squad, led by Rohit Sharma, also includes star players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant, among others. Non-travelling substitutes, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Shivam Dube, will be available to join the team as needed.
