Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has opined that Harshit Rana’s ODI debut may mean that Jasprit Bumrah won’t be featuring in ICC Champions Trophy. The Delhi pacer was handed his maiden ODI cap in IND vs ENG 1st ODI in Nagpur on Thursday. Given the uncertainty over an injured Bumrah’s availability for the marquee tournament, it remains to be seen if Rana will be drafted into the squad following the ODIs.
Rana to replace Bumrah in Champions Trophy squad?
Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra reckoned that Rana’s debut indicated that there were minimal chances for Bumrah to play in CT 2025. He pointed out that Rana was ahead of Siraj at the moment and was most likely to be taken for the marquee event as well. Earlier, reports had claimed that it was “absolutely impossible” for Bumrah to gain 100% fitness in time for Champions Trophy.
“Harshit Rana’s debut tells me there are minimal chances of Jasprit Bumrah being available for the Champions Trophy. You are thinking that if Bumrah is not there in the Champions Trophy and you have to take Harshit, because he is ahead of (Mohammed) Siraj at the moment, taking him without his debut will make your heart beat fast. Harshit’s debut gives me an indication that Bumrah might not be there,” he said.
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In his debut match, Rana returned with figures of 3/53. This despite being hit for 26 runs in an over by Phil Salt, early on in his spell. From there, not only he made a comeback, but also showed that he can bowl and pick wickets under pressure. He removed the likes of Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone, to break the back of English batting line up, after which they were bundled out for only 248.
