Former player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has said that it would be a ‘massive blow’ for India if their speedster Jasprit Bumrah isn’t available for the Champions Trophy 2025 group stage. He also added that the unconventional seamer is irreplaceable too. However, the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy will take place in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 onwards. Reports also suggest Bumrah is unlikely to be available for India’s Group A clashes against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “It is being said that Jasprit Bumrah won’t be available for the first half of the Champions Trophy, which means he won’t be available for the matches against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan, and that is a massive blow. You will have to look at it from multiple perspectives. Firstly, no one can replace Jasprit Bumrah. You will need two bowlers to replace one bowler, which is not possible. Secondly, when you talk about the February month in Dubai, the ball is going to swing,” he added.

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“There will be slight help for the bowlers on those pitches. We might not see high-scoring 350-run matches as the pitches won’t be like that. So when you have to play a different template of cricket, you need firepower in fast bowling, and if you remove the biggest Bhramastra from that firepower, the quiver will seem empty, and he will be missed a lot,” Chopra again shared.

However, Jasprit Bumrah sustained back spasms during the final Test of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 as well. He reportedly has swelling on his back and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will monitor his recovery as well. Aakash Chopra also expressed hope that Jasprit Bumrah is fit and available for the entire Champions Trophy 2025 campaign as well.

“He might be available in the second half but India have to reach the second half. Bumrah will only be of help if you reach the semi-final. Now I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am just hoping for Indian cricket. I really want Bumrah to be available and fit, and rearing to go. However, if he isn’t available, I don’t have an answer at all to that question at the moment. Arshdeep, Siraj, and then you will have to start looking. Who will you take with them? It could be Prasidh (Krishna), Khaleel (Ahmed), Mukesh (Kumar) or Harshit Rana. There can be many but no one can be like Bumrah,” Aakash Chopra concluded.