Team India’s hopes for the title at the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai got a further blow as reports suggest that it may take a ‘miracle’ for Jasprit Bumrah to be 100% ready for the mega showcase. Bumrah has been crippling with a longstanding back injury sustained during the 5th and the final Test against Australia in Sydney. Apparently, before he left for India, he was communicating with Dr. Rowan Schouten in New Zealand and even planned to visit New Zealand for treatment ahead of the Champions Trophy. However, with probability against him being fit enough by then, the BCCI has decided to work on a ‘backup plan.
The selectors want to keep Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj in a ‘ready’ mode as ‘replacements’ for Bumrah if the prominent pacer continues to be unavailable for the Champions Trophy, according to a Times of India report.
“The BCCI medical team is in contact with Schouten in New Zealand. The board also had a plan for Bumrah to leave for New Zealand, but that hasn’t happened yet. The selectors are aware that, given the timeline, it will be a miracle for Bumrah to be 100% fit,” the source said to the TOI.
Harshit is in India’s ODI squad for the England series, and if Bumrah does not recover in time, there are good chances he will make it to the Champions Trophy squad as well. Dr. Schouten was the one who operated on Bumrah after the latter sustained an injury that kept him out of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
“The reports will be shared with his doctor in New Zealand. Whether or not Bumrah is going to New Zealand depends on this kind of feedback. The board and Bumrah himself do not want to push too hard, considering the longer time scale,” the report quoted a source as saying.
“The selectors will not be informed if he is fit to play until after the whole process. The selectors will need to have some kind of plan, just in case. He will need a miracle to come back,” the source further informed.
Bumrah has been asked not to do any rigorous physical exercise, making it quite impossible for him to get fit for the Champions Trophy. The last date for considering changes in India’s squad for the event is 11 February.
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