Jasprit Bumrah's fate in the Champions Trophy 2025-the final call today

BCCI and selectors will decide on India national cricketer Jasprit Bumrah for possible appearance in the incoming Champions Trophy 2025 a fitness status to decide his fate now. This draws near to the last date for presenting the final team to the ICC. All are watching if Bumrah, being the standout Indian performer in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is going to be considered fit enough or a replacement could be announced to the team.

A back injury has targeted the fast bowler from India while playing during the last Test of the series held in January 2025 in Sydney under the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Throughout the whole series, he has performed well; while bowling during a match he walked out in half-time time and a spasm was there on his back. Since then, since this incident, Bumrah was not found playing any cricket match and living and receiving medicinal treatment in the National Cricket Academy at Bengaluru where the medical team of the BCCI used to be placed under close scrutiny.

Bumrah recently underwent a detailed scan of his back at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. According to a report, the medical team has put up its findings before the selectors and team management, who will finalize the decision on his participation in the high-profile ICC event. It's particularly crucial as today is the last day teams can do changes in their squad without taking permission from the ICC.

Harshit Rana in Queue to Replace

If Bumrah does not regain complete fitness, selectors are not left high and dry. There does not seem to be a clear favourite except for Harshit Rana in the queue. This young pacer has gone on to get headlines for his state team and for IPL.

As stated by a source in the BCCI, speaking to PTI while saying that they are trying their best to get Bumrah fit for the tournament, the selectors and team management would like to send Bumrah out at the last moment.

"The Head of Sports Science, Dr Nitin Patel is guiding them through the rehab and S&C coach Rajnikanth Sivagnanam, physio Thulasi Ram Yuvraj are being advised. So, the national side's S&C coach Soham Desai and physio Kamlesh Jain, too are briefed about the happenings," an official at a senior position, in BCCI, was reported to have revealed to PTI.

What if he misses the Champions Trophy?

Since the Indian cricket team will miss him very dearly, Bumrah is unmistakably in a hurry to regain the earlier momentum for the team since a series of disappointments from the Indian team after the T20 World Cup of 2024. His death over and the ability to create the much-needed pace accompanied by variations to make tricky situations for the batters make Bumrah one of the most valuable assets for the Indian cricket team.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri had revealed a couple of days back just how much Bumrah contributes to the team when he said:

"If Bumrah is not fit, then India's chances of winning the Champions Trophy will drop at least by 30-35 percent. If you have Bumrah in the team fit, then you know you'll get those death overs controlled. It would've been a completely different ball game with him in the squad."

The Big Picture for Team India

The Indian team needed the consolidation of the bowling attack since some of the prime pacers in the side had sustained injuries over the last two months. Management, henceforth, wanted Bumrah fit for a longer period, and the ICC World Test Championship Final and the T20 World Cup 2026 are also not out of sight.

This non-selection might even force Indian think-tanks to re-think their bowling approach to the Champions Trophy. Well, yes, there are those young bowlers like Harshit Rana and others who promise for India, but that cannot be replaced by a bowler like Bumrah.

Last word on it should come pretty soon.

When the deadline for the last date of submission of teams is almost knocking at the door, eyes in the cricketing fraternity are on the medical team and selectors of BCCI, who would hold the trump card regarding his availability. Whether Bumrah, the ace pacer, miraculously recovers before the tournament commences or sits out yet another major ICC event, there's one point that stands pat – his loss will affect the Indian campaign massively in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Now, cricket analysts and enthusiasts have been on tenterhooks for a much-awaited report over the fitness of Bumrah as the side looks forward to ending losses and regaining the top position on the world circuit. Till then, the cricketing world awaits with bated breath for the final word which comes later today.