As India prepares for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, their biggest concern is the fitness of pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who suffered a back spasm during the fifth and final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Sydney. Cricket Ground (SCG).
India's premier bowler's participation in the 2025 Cricket Champions Trophy is now in doubt. As the landmark tournament begins on February 19, the uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah's participation has sent shockwaves through the Indian cricket fraternity.
Fitness concerns for Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
Bumrah's impressive performance in the five-match Test series, where he took 32 wickets in just nine innings, and his absence in the New Year's Test at the SCG, where India suffered a six-wicket defeat to Australia, highlighted India's reliance. Cricket team on tailor.
The Indian pacer's relentless workload, including over 150 runs in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, left him unavailable during the second innings of the Sydney Test, and now his availability for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is uncertain.
Harbhajan Singh criticizes Team India for overburdening Jasprit Bumrah
Reacting to this setback, former Indian pacer Harbhajan Singh criticized the management of the Indian cricket team, accusing them of over-relying on Jasprit Bumrah at every important moment. Harbhajan highlighted how exhausted the player was, which led to his physical collapse, which could jeopardize India's chances in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
“It has been used as if you were squeezing sugarcane juice,” Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel. It was like, “Travis Head is here; He gives the ball to Bumrah. Marnus has come. He gives the ball to Bumrah. Steve Smith has come. Give the ball to Bumrah. How many overs will Bumrah make?
He added: “He got to such a state that he was finally unavailable. Had he been there, Australia might have won the fifth Test, but they would have lost eight wickets; It could have been difficult for them. His back was broken, and management had to decide how much money to give him.
Team India is awaiting clarification on Jasprit Bumrah's injury status
Notably, Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the upcoming white-ball series against England and the 2025 Champions Trophy is still uncertain as the extent of his back injury has not been determined yet. If the injury is mild (Grade 1), Bumrah may need two to three weeks to recover and return to action.
However, a grade 2 injury may require up to six weeks of rehabilitation. In a worst-case scenario, a grade three injury could sideline the star for three months, ruling him out of the tournament. The Indian cricket team management is closely monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the former World Cup winner criticized Team India's selection for the fifth Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the SCG. Harbhajan Singh expressed his frustration at the decision to play two spinners, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, on a green, pace-friendly pitch.
The former Indian spinner said the wrong selection added to India's woes. “It is beyond my understanding that despite playing so much cricket and watching so much cricket, you don't understand such a small thing… what to do on such a pitch,” he said.
