Reports: Jasprit Bumrah to miss group-stage matches of Champions Trophy 2025 due to back swelling

According to the freshest developments on star Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, he is likely to miss the group-stage matches of the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy due to a reported swelling in his back. 

Reports suggest that the selectors of the national setup who met in Mumbai on Saturday to shortlist the squad for the upcoming T20I series against England learnt about the status of Bumrah's fitness. The deadline for announcing squads for the Champions Trophy is Sunday (12/01/24). However, it is being understood that the Board of Cricket for Control in India has asked for an extension.

According to a source closely linked to the BCCI, Bumrah would not be rushed into the squad even if he fully recovers at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.  

“He (Bumrah) will be going to NCA for his rehabilitation. The initial report says he doesn’t have a fracture but has swelling on his back. So, the NCA will monitor his recovery and he will be there for three weeks. But even after that, he will have to play a match or two, even if they are practice games organised to check his match fitness,” stated the source, as quoted by The Indian Express.

According to the same person, Bumrah is anticipated to be fully fit only by the first week of March. Another decision that is reported to be learnt is that the panel of selectors are considering whether to add the Indian speedster to the 15-member squad or the list of reserves. It has come to light that the governing body will submit a provisional squad to the International Cricket Council. Changes can be made to the team list till a week before the commencement of the tournament (February 12). This is expected to give selectors adequate time to track Bumrah's recovery path.

India will play their final group-stage match against New Zealand on March 2. However, it is still uncertain whether Bumrah would be ready to feature against the Kiwis. Before the aforementioned fixture, India face Bangladesh and Pakistan on February 20 and February 23, respectively.

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For the unversed, a back spasm in the recently concluded edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy led to Bumrah missing out on the last innings of the series in Sydney. The Player of the Series accounted for a total of 32 wickets in nine innings Down Under.