While Team India appear to have hit their stride at the right time just ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 – having battered England 3-0 at home in an ODI series – they will still face the problem of having to replace Jasprit Bumrah during the main tournament. Bumrah, unquestionably India’s pace spearhead, has not been able to recover from a back issue in time for the tournament. Former England coach David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd stated that left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, set to replace Bumrah in India’s playing XI, will have to significantly adjust from T20I cricket to ODI cricket.
“It’s a great opportunity for someone to come in, someone who wouldn’t make the team. But you can’t get away from the fact that he (Bumrah) is the best bowler in the world, and if he isn’t playing for you, you’ve got a problem” said Lloyd, speaking on TalkSport Cricket.
Arshdeep Singh is India’s highest-ever T20I wicket-taker, but has only played nine ODIs till date. Lloyd mentioned that shifting from T20Is to ODIs would be a big change.
“Massive difference – four overs to 10. If you’re the opposition, test him out; really get into him,” Lloyd said.
“‘This is not T20 mate, this is not a little party, you’ve got to come back and come back again’, that will be something he won’t be used to,” Lloyd said.
Arshdeep is one of three pacers selected by Team India for the Champions Trophy 2025, along with Mohammed Shami Harshit Rana. India chose as many as five spinners in their squad, due to the conditions in Dubai and the short duration of the tournament.
Arshdeep has made a decent start to his ODI career, with 14 wickets at 23 from nine ODIs for India.
Conversely, in the three-match ODI series against England, Arshdeep played only one match, while Shami took part in two games and Rana participated in all three.
India will feel the absence of Bumrah – the ICC Cricketer of the Year for 2024. At 31, he had all the form in the world before the Champions Trophy, having just been adjudicated ‘Player of the Tournament’ at T20 World Cup 2024 and ‘Player of the Series’ at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India will straightaway opt for two frontline seamers in the playing XI for the Champions Trophy, with a choice of all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the third seam option.
