Former Australian captain turned coach Ricky Ponting has opened up on Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement in Team India’s playing eleven for Champions Trophy 2025 as well. Ponting added that Arshdeep Singh should replace Bumrah, given how the left-arm pace bowler has a similar skill set to Bumrah as well. However, the speedster will miss the eight-team event due to a back injury he sustained during the BGT.

Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, Ricky Ponting said: “I would go with the left-armer and I’d go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah). We know how good he’s been in T20 cricket and if you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with new ball and death overs and that’s what India will miss. That’s taking nothing away from Harshit Rana because I think he has got a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball, but I don’t think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh’s are.”

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The veteran also feels if any team has the talent pool to replace a player of Jasprit Bumrah’s caliber, it’s India as well.

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“I think we all felt that they were going to be one of the main dangers anyway. Even with Bumrah not being there, I mean, yes, it’s very hard to replace someone like that. But if any team can do it with the amount of talent that the Indians have got, it might be them,” Ricky Ponting concluded.