Najmul Hossain Shanto Dodges Question On Jasprit Bumrah!! Reacts To India’s Five Spinners In Champions Trophy 2025

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is not surprised with India’s plan of keeping five spinners in their squad for the recently started Champions Trophy 2025. The Rohit Sharma-led side will play all of their games on the used surfaces at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.

The 2013 title winners went with two left-arm spin bowling all-rounders, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, besides keeping the left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, in the side. They will have the option of Washington Sundar, the off-spinner, and the mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy.

Najmul Hossain Shanto dismisses question on Jasprit Bumrah’s absence

One of the premier pacers of the Indian side, Jasprit Bumrah, won’t be part of the eight-team tournament due to a back injury. The Ahmedabad-born was in terrific touch during the recent five-match Test series in the Border Gavaskar Trophy with 32 wickets in nine innings at an average of around 13, shouldering on three five-wicket hauls.

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The BCCI selectors kept Bumrah in the provisional squad for the event, as the pacer was expected to play the third home ODI against England in the home series. Bumrah started bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru but didn’t pass the fitness test to make himself available for the tournament.

Later, the selectors went with Harshit Rana in the 15-member squad, besides replacing Chakravarthy with the opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, in the side.

"A big relief for your team that you don't have to face Jasprit Bumrah tomorrow.” One of the reporters from Bangladesh asked Najmul Hossain Shanto on the eve of the press conference. The journalists also went on to ask the southpaw how the side would adjust to the 50-overs format after coming into the competition from playing T20s in the BPL.

“I'm not someone thinking about any individual cricketer. I think they have a lot of quality players, so we are thinking about how we execute our plans," Najmul Hossain Shanto addressed in the presser as he decided to dismiss the question on Bumrah.

Najmul Hossain Shanto not surprised as India’s spin-heavy attack

In Bumrah’s absence, India will open the bowling with Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya, who is their pace-bowling all-rounder. There is a high chance of the side going with three spinners, including Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep.

“I'm not surprised if they put two or three spinners because we have that idea what the team combination will be happen, tomorrow. So, we have that, all the preparation. For the last few days, we had a good practice session, So we know how the challenge will come tomorrow.” Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed when asked about India’s spin-heavy attack.

In the last meeting of these two sides in the Champions Trophy, India chased down the target with nine wickets in hand and nearly 10 overs to spare.

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It will be a different-looking Bangladesh side, who will be without their veteran spin-bowling all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, for the very first time in an ICC event after nearly 21 years.

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“The wicket and the ball have been changed in first-class cricket. We play with the Duke ball, so the fast bowlers wanted to bowl a lot of overs, and we get a little bit charged.” Najmul Hossain Shanto elaborated at the presser.

“There are a lot of local coaches and overseas coaches there, so they helped, and they motivated the fast bowlers how they can compete in this international arena. So that is one thing: the ball and the wicket have changed, and thanks to BCB, the way they think about our fast bowlers. So, that is the one thing our first bowlers come up with.” He concluded.