India Unsettled With Jasprit Bumrah’s Absence In Champions Trophy? Gautam Gambhir Reveals New Bowling Leader

India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, reckoned that they won’t be weak even without their premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The event will take place in Pakistan and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium from February 19.

The Ahmedabad-born pacer was in tremendous touch of late in the recent five-match Test series down under in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. But, his injury during the fifth Sydney Test in the series speculated if he would be part of the side for the eight-team tournament.

India to miss Jasprit Bumrah in Champions Trophy

Bumrah was the leading wicket-taker of the five-match Test series of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with 32 scalps in nine innings at an average of 13.06 and a strike rate of 28.37. He celebrated three five-wicket hauls and a couple of four-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 6/76 in an inning.

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Jasprit didn’t bowl for the last three days for the Sydney Test and couldn’t make it into the first two ODIs of the England series at home. The Ajit Agarkar-led side kept Bumrah in the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy, highlighting that the Gujarat pacer will be in action for the final game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The 31-year-old joined the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Even though he has started bowling at short spells, he won’t be fit enough to take part in the Champions Trophy. That will be a huge miss for the blue brigade.

The right-arm pacer, who has earned overall 149 wickets in 88 ODI innings at an average of 23.55 and a strike rate of 30.7, finished as the fourth leading wicket-taker of the 2023 ODI World Cup at home with 20 scalps in 11 innings at an average of 18.65 and a strike rate of 27.55.

Gautam Gambhir names India’s new bowling leader for Champions Trophy

The Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Following their 142-run victory against England in Ahmedabad to seal the series by a margin of 3-0, claimed that they were not putting much focus on Bumrah’s injury.

“If he is injured, he is injured, whether it’s me, whether it’s the captain, we can’t do much about it.” Gambhir expressed to the reporters, as quoted by the Times of India.

We know that he is an important factor. But as I mentioned, people like Harshit, Arshdeep, Mohammed Shami, all these guys will put their hands up. It’s a great opportunity for them to try and deliver for the country.” The former Indian opener reckoned.

Shami was the leading wicket-taker of the last ICC ODI event with 24 wickets in seven innings at an average of 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20 thanks to three five-wicket hauls and one four-wicket haul at the best bowling figure of 7/57 in an inning during the semifinal against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium,

India manages Mohammed Shami’s bowling workload in ODIs

Since his long injury layoff, Mohammad Shami featured in the first two Nagpur and Cuttack ODIs against England and could pick up just one wicket. He didn’t look to be in the same rhythm for the two encounters.

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“Look, it’s always good to have a world-class bowler back. With his experience, with his quality, we all know what he can do with the ball in his hand.” Gambhir addressed.

“We were trying to manage his workload. That’s the reason why we played his two T20Is and two one-day games. Hopefully, he will be fresh and ready to go in the Champions Trophy.” India’s head coach highlighted.

The blue brigade will start their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20 before facing arch-rivals Pakistan.