Major Blow For India! Ace Pacer All Set To Miss Champions Trophy Group Stage Matches: Report
Photo : AP
In what might come as a major blow to India's hopes of regaining the Champions Trophy, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will likely miss the group-stage games, since the back spasms he suffered during the Sydney Test last week haven't healed. The bowler, who had suffered from back issues earlier, could have been key to India's chances in the tournament.
According to a report in the Indian Express, Bumrah, who has swelling on his back, has been ordered to report to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru where his recovery will be monitored.
The Champions Trophy, which will have the world's top eight ODI sides, starts on February 19, with the games scheduled in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Dubai for India's matches.
The report says that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, which met in Mumbai on Saturday, January 11, to pick the side for the T20I series at home against England later in January, has been updated about Bumrah's fitness status. Although the deadline for announcing the teams is Sunday, January 12, BCCI has requested an extension.
Selectors are considering whether they should name Bumrah in the team of 15 or add him to the list of reserve players for the Champions Trophy. The report says that BCCI will submit a provisional team to ICC. As changes to sides can be made until February 12, selectors have time to monitor Bumrah's progress closer to the Champions Trophy.
"He (Bumrah) will be going to NCA for his rehabilitation. The initial report says he does not have a fracture but has swelling on his back. So the NCA will monitor his recovery and he will be there for three weeks. But even after that, he will have to play a match or two, even if they are practice games organised to check his match fitness," a source told The Indian Express.
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