Harshit Rana replaces Jasprit Bumrah in India's Champion Trophy squad

India suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out due to a lower back injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development late Tuesday night, just before the deadline for final squad changes. Bumrah had been struggling with back spasms since the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia last month.

The selection committee has named 23-year-old fast bowler Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement. Rana made his ODI debut in the ongoing series against England, where he impressed in the first match in Nagpur. Additionally, the BCCI has made another key change, bringing in mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal. Chakaravarthy has been in outstanding form in limited-overs cricket and recently earned his maiden ODI cap in the England series.

Bumrah, who was initially expected to recover in time for the Champions Trophy, was quietly left out of India’s squad update last week. Despite hopes of featuring in the final ODI against England, the BCCI decided not to risk his fitness, considering his history of back injuries. With a packed international schedule ahead, the board opted for a more cautious approach.

Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy, both part of the IPL-winning Kolkata Knight Riders squad under mentor Gautam Gambhir, have now found a place in India’s Champions Trophy squad. Their strong IPL performances, coupled with their recent international debuts, have earned them a chance on the big stage. Gambhir, who played a crucial role in KKR’s IPL 2024 triumph, was recently appointed as India’s head coach.

India will begin their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai. The much-anticipated clash against Pakistan is scheduled for February 23, followed by their final group-stage match against New Zealand on March 2. With BCCI refusing to travel to Pakistan citing security concerns, all of India's matches will be played in the UAE.

With key changes in the squad, India will now rely on its new pace attack led by Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana. The inclusion of Chakaravarthy adds a fresh spin option alongside Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja. As the tournament nears, all eyes will be on India’s performance under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.