Given the form India pacer Jasprit Bumrah had shown in the IND vs AUS series, where he picked up 32 wickets, all the teams should be worried, as to what damage he could inflict in the Champions Trophy. But then Pakistan interim head coach Aaqib Javed has dismissed any such concerns.
Jasprit Bumrah Not a Worry for Pakistan
He made it clear, that the Indian team management should be worried about Jasprit Bumrah‘s injury, and not Pakistan. “They (India) should be worried about Bumrah’s fitness. When you play Champions Trophy, the most beautiful thing about it is you can’t take any team lightly. The top eight best teams are playing. If any team has a bowler like Bumrah, it is a plus point. But it is not like we will plan everything around him,” Aaqib told reporters, as quoted by ANI.
But despite concerns over his fitness, Bumrah was included in India’s 15-member Champions Trophy squad. “Jasprit, obviously, we’re waiting on some update about his scan, which is due to happen in the next few days,” Rohit had said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the first ODI vs England.
Bumrah Could be Out of Champions Trophy
Meanwhile, India play Pakistan in Dubai on Feb 23, and that could be a detrimental match in context of India’s chances to making it to the playoffs. In their last meeting in an ODI, at the World Cup 2023, India had won the match with seven wickets i hand, after being set a target of 192.
As for Jasprit Bumrah, if the pacer is unfit, then the Indian management will have a chance to replace him, until Feb 11. The CT 2025 starts on Feb 19, whereas India play their first match on Feb 20 vs Bangladesh, in Dubai.
