India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been officially ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a persistent back injury, the BCCI confirmed late on Tuesday night. After weeks of speculation over his fitness, the selectors have named young pacer Harshit Rana as his replacement in the final 15-member squad. In another unexpected selection move, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has also been left out, with mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy taking his place.
Bumrah’s Recovery Setback Forces Exit
Bumrah, who suffered a lower back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was initially advised five weeks of rest by the BCCI’s medical team. However, despite rehabilitation, the 31-year-old pacer failed to recover in time. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that his fitness status did not meet the required standards for the marquee tournament.
Harshit Rana, who made his ODI debut during the recent England series, has been handed a spot in the squad after an impressive performance, where he picked up four wickets in two matches.
Jaiswal Dropped, Chakaravarthy Earns Spot
The second major shake-up in India’s squad saw opener Yashasvi Jaiswal omitted from the final roster, with 33-year-old mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy replacing him.
Both players made their ODI debuts against England, but Chakaravarthy’s recent red-hot form in the T20I series, where he bagged 14 wickets in five matches and was named ‘Player of the Series’, sealed his inclusion.
On the other hand, Jaiswal—who was India’s top run-scorer across all formats in 2024—has featured in just one ODI match. The selectors seem to have favored experience over promise, given the nature of the tournament.
Three Non-Travelling Reserves Named
In addition to the final squad, the BCCI has named three non-traveling substitutes:
Yashasvi Jaiswal (batsman)
Mohammed Siraj (pacer)
Shivam Dube (all-rounder)
These players will be on standby and could join the squad in Dubai if required.
Final Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Non-traveling reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube.
What’s Next for Team India?
With the squad now finalized, Team India will shift focus to final preparations for the Champions Trophy, hoping to regain the title they last won in 2013. The tournament, set to be held in Dubai, promises high-stakes action as India aims for a strong campaign despite these last-minute changes.