Champions Trophy India Squad

India’s preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 have taken a hit as star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out due to an ongoing back issue. Despite undergoing medical assessments in Bengaluru over the weekend, Bumrah has yet to regain full match fitness and is not ready to return to competitive cricket. This injury, which initially surfaced during the Sydney Test in January, had already kept him out of the limited-overs series against England.

Adding to the changes, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been omitted from the squad, with Varun Chakravarthy stepping in as his replacement.

Bumrah’s road to recovery

While scans have not revealed any severe complications, Bumrah is still on the path to regaining full fitness. The medical team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru will continue monitoring his progress. He is expected to begin light training in the coming weeks, gradually building up to full-intensity bowling. However, there is no confirmed date for his return to the field.

This marks the second ICC event that Bumrah will miss due to injury, following his absence from the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, which eventually led to him undergoing surgery.

Harshit Rana steps in as Bumrah’s replacement

With Bumrah out of the squad, Harshit Rana has been named as his replacement. The 22-year-old pacer recently made his ODI debut against England and caught attention with a promising performance despite a tough start. The ICC’s February 11 deadline required teams to finalise their 15-member squads, making this a last-minute but necessary adjustment for India. Any future squad modifications will require approval from the tournament’s technical committee.

When India’s provisional squad was announced in January, Harshit Rana was already on standby as an alternative to Bumrah. Despite being relatively new to international cricket, selectors preferred him over experienced campaigners like Mohammed Siraj, who has been a key figure in India's pace attack, especially during the 2023 World Cup.

Explaining the decision, captain Rohit Sharma had earlier noted that Siraj’s effectiveness is highest when he takes the new ball, a role that was already assigned to Mohammed Shami. With Arshdeep Singh handling the death overs, the management believed Rana’s inclusion offered the right balance.

Meanwhile, Varun Chakravarthy has been brought in as Jaiswal’s replacement. Jaiswal, Siraj and Shivam Dube will now serve as non-traveling reserves. Rohit recently hinted at Varun’s selection, praising his unique skill set and strong performances in T20 cricket. Since rejoining India’s squad, the spinner has taken 31 wickets at an impressive average of 11.25 and recently made his ODI debut, claiming figures of 1 for 54 in Cuttack.

India’s final squad for the Champions Trophy

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, 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 Chakravarthy

Non-traveling reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube.

Catch the action of Champions Trophy 2025 and follow the Champions Trophy India Squad on their quest for glory in the prestigious ICC tournament! Follow the live action between India and Pakistan on Feb 23 where the arch-rivals clash in Dubai.