Former India player turned veteran commentator Sanjay Manjrekar added that Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad would not have come suddenly for the team. He said that India’s preparations made it clear that they were ready to go ahead without their main bowler. Manjrekar, however, shared that India will miss Bumrah the most in crunch moments in big games as well.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said, “Bumrah’s absence is not an event. It’s not like suddenly India have realized that they will be without Bumrah. Somewhere, they were all aware that it’s going to be touch and go and India made preparations accordingly. Harshit Rana’s emergence and Arshdeep, who had a great T20 series; Mohammed Shami slowly getting fit [are good signs for India].”

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“When Bumrah comes in, the crunch moments in the big games are taken care of. He just makes sure that India are back in the game in the crunch moments. That ability very few bowlers have. And that is what India will miss.”India will not suddenly look like a weak side, but these big moments in matches where Bumrah would get India back in a winning position, the other bowlers will find it very hard to replicate,” the veteran again added.

While India lost the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia by a 4-1 margin, Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Series for his stunning bowling efforts. He claimed 32 wickets in five matches at an average of 13.06, which also included three five-fers and two four-fers as well.