Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing for India at ICC Champions Trophy

India begin their bid to win the ICC Champions Trophy on Thursday but will do so without their No.1 pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The 31-year-old, , who was the highest wicket-taker in the recent test series with Australia, which India lost 3-1. Bumrah, however, suffered with back spasms during the final test in Sydney, which also caused him to miss a five-match T20 international series with England.

His absence will be a major blow to India, with Bumrah widely considered one of the best all-format fast bowlers in the sport. ‘Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The men’s selection committee has named Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement,’ the BCCI announced in a statement last week.

Rana has played two ODIs, both of which came against England this month, picking up four wickets. The BCCI added that spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who took 14 wickets in a five-match Twenty20 series against England in January and February, would replace batter Yashasvi Jaiswal.

India are in Group A in the Champions Trophy and meet Bangladesh in tomorrow, before taking on defending champions and rivals Pakistan and ending their group campaign against New Zealand. Bumrah is far the only high-profile player to be absent from the tournament with Australia’s Mitchel Starc also missing.

Starc’s withdrawal, for personal reasons, means Australia are without the entire pace attack from last year’s World Cup victory. Australia were already without captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood, as well as all-rounder Mitchell Marsh through injury.

Experienced all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, meanwhile, announced his retirement from ODI cricket last week. Chairman of selectors George Bailey said: ‘We understand and respect Mitch’s decision. ‘His well-documented ability to play through pain and adversity, as well as forgoing opportunities in other parts of his career to put his country first should be applauded.

‘His loss is of course a blow for the Champions Trophy campaign but does provide an opportunity to someone else to make a mark on the tournament.’. Sean Abbott, who was part of the World Cup-winning squad, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis provide the less experienced pace options in a 15-man squad captained by Steve Smith.

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