Ravi Shastri says Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in Champions Trophy will reduce India’s chances of winning by 30-35%

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri feels Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in the Champions Trophy will reduce India’s chances of winning by 30-35%. Bumrah suffered a back injury in the fifth Test match against Australia at Sydney and thus could not bowl in the second innings.

Shastri urged the team management to not rush Bumrah from his back injury for the Champions Trophy as it could further aggravate his injury.

Rohit Sharma, on Wednesday, revealed that they are uncertain on Bumrah’s fitness and they would take a call on his selection for the ODI series against England after scans come out.

Ravi Shastri said on ICC Review, “I think it’s high risk. There’s too much big cricket coming up for India. And at this stage of his career, I think he’s too precious to be just called on for one game out of the blue and asked to deliver. The expectations will be so much. They’ll think that he’ll come in straight away and set the world on fire.”

“It’s never that easy when you come back from injury. Bumrah not fit will reduce India’s chances [of winning the Champions Trophy] by 30%, literally by 30-35%. With a fully fit Bumrah playing, you are guaranteed of those death overs,” he added.

Bumrah bagged ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year as well as the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024 as he ticked the right boxes. The gun fast bowler scalped 32 wickets in five Test matches against Australia at a splendid average of 13.06 and thus was awarded Player of the Series.

The first ODI between India and England will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur on Thursday.