India’s chances in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy have taken a big hit as their top fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has been ruled out of the tournament. Bumrah suffered a lower back injury during the final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney last month. Since then, he has been unable to play any matches due to his injury. This is a huge setback for the Indian cricket team, as Bumrah is one of the best bowlers in the world and plays a crucial role in India’s bowling attack.
To replace Bumrah in the squad, the national selectors have chosen fast bowler Harshit Rana. He has been included in the 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy. While Rana is a talented bowler, filling Bumrah’s shoes will be a tough task. Fans and cricket experts are hoping that he will perform well and help India in the tournament.
In another big selection decision, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been given a place in the squad. Chakravarthy has been performing exceptionally well in white-ball cricket, making him a valuable addition to the team. However, his inclusion comes at the cost of young opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been left out of the main squad. Instead, Jaiswal will be one of the standby players who will not be traveling with the team unless needed.
Apart from Jaiswal, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and all-rounder Shivam Dube have also been named as non-traveling substitutes. This means that if any player from the main squad gets injured or becomes unavailable, these players might be called in as replacements. However, they will not be part of the squad from the beginning.
Another interesting decision is the inclusion of middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer in the 15-member squad. Iyer was initially not in the playing XI, but he got a chance to play in the first One-Day International (ODI) against England because Virat Kohli was injured. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal was being tested as an opening batsman at that time. Now, with Jaiswal being dropped from the squad, Iyer has secured his place in the team.
The ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19 and will be hosted by Pakistan. However, due to political reasons, India’s matches will not be played in Pakistan. Instead, the Indian team will play all their games in Dubai. This decision has been taken to ensure the safety and security of the Indian players.
India’s first match in the tournament will be against Bangladesh on February 20. This will be an important game as both teams will be looking to start their campaign with a victory. India’s second match will be the most awaited one, as they will take on their arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23. This India-Pakistan clash is always a high-intensity match that attracts millions of viewers worldwide. India’s final group-stage match will be against New Zealand on March 3. This match will also be crucial, as New Zealand is a strong team with a well-balanced squad.
With Bumrah ruled out and key selection changes being made, India’s performance in the Champions Trophy will be closely watched. Fans will be hoping that the team plays well and overcomes these challenges to perform strongly in the tournament. The matches in Dubai will test India’s ability to adapt to different conditions, and the team will need to play at its best to progress further in the competition.
The Champions Trophy is one of the most prestigious tournaments in cricket, and India will be aiming to bring the trophy home. While the absence of Bumrah is a big blow, the team still has many talented players who can make a difference. Cricket fans across India and the world will be eagerly waiting to see how the team performs in this exciting tournament.
