As the cricketing world gears up for the Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian cricket team faces a significant challenge with the injury to their premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. Ravi Shastri, former coach of the Indian cricket team, has voiced concerns over Bumrah’s participation, describing it as a “high risk” due to the amount of cricket India is scheduled to play.
Ravi Shastri’s Concern For Jasprit Bumrah
“I think it’s high risk. There’s too much big cricket coming up for India,” Shastri expressed during his appearance on The ICC Review.
His apprehension stems from the understanding that Bumrah, at this stage of his career, is too valuable to be risked in a single match without proper preparation, especially considering the expectations that would immediately be placed on him.
Bumrah’s role in the Indian bowling lineup is not just about taking wickets; it’s about controlling the game’s pace, especially in those crucial death overs where matches can be won or lost.
Shastri pointed out, “With a fully fit Bumrah playing, you are guaranteed of those death overs. It would’ve been a different ball game altogether.”
His absence could tilt the scales, reducing India’s chances of lifting the trophy by a significant margin, “Bumrah not fit will reduce India’s chances (of winning the Champions Trophy) by 30%, literally by 30-35%,” Shastri emphasized.
The sentiment is echoed by former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who has concerns about the workload on Bumrah without a reliable backup like Mohammed Shami.
Ponting reminisced about the Australian series where Bumrah had to shoulder much of the bowling responsibility due to Shami’s absence, which might have contributed to his current injury.
“My biggest concern about India when they came for Australia in the Test series was Bumrah not having Shami there as a backup and him having to burden most of the load,” Ponting remarked, highlighting the potential impact of Shami’s fitness on India’s performance.
Shami, another key component of India’s pace attack, is also returning from an injury but has shown signs of recovery during recent T20Is against England.
His role could become even more critical if Bumrah’s recovery does not align with the tournament schedule.
Shastri pondered on how India might manage Shami’s involvement, suggesting a cautious approach, “It will be interesting to see if India play him out in all three, or they give him the first one and the third one, and then ease him into the Champions Trophy.”
The physical demands of one-day cricket, where bowlers must deliver 10 overs compared to the shorter stints in T20s, add another layer of complexity to managing these players’ fitness.
Shastri emphasized the need to monitor Shami closely, not just for his bowling but also for how he would cope in the field after such exertions.
As India prepares to kick off their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 19, the team’s strategy, especially concerning their bowling lineup, will be under intense scrutiny.
The squad for the England ODIs and the Champions Trophy features a mix of experienced players and bright prospects, but without Bumrah at full throttle, adjustments will be necessary.
The Indian cricket team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, will have to navigate this challenge with strategic acumen, relying on the likes of Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja to cover the void left by Bumrah.
The coming matches against England will serve as a litmus test for how well India can adapt and whether they can still harbor hopes of clinching the Champions Trophy in Bumrah’s potential absence.
In the grand narrative of cricket, this situation underscores the delicate balance teams must maintain between player welfare and competitive performance, a balance that could very well dictate the outcome of one of cricket’s most prestigious tournaments.
