India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is currently at risk for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Bumrah suffered back spasms during the last Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in early January and has been out of professional cricket since.

Legendary cricketers Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting have shed light on Bumrah’s injury and his potential absence from the Champions Trophy squad. Shastri feels that Bumrah’s absence will reduce India’s chances of winning the tournament by a significant margin.

Meanwhile, Ponting is focusing on Mohammed Shami’s availability and believes that he will be crucial if Bumrah doesn’t pull up well. It is to be noted that Shami will be India’s fast-bowling spearhead if Bumrah is ruled out of the Champions Trophy.

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan squad under fire as selectors ordered to fix blunders

Ravi Shastri speaks on Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback

While speaking on The ICC Review, Ravi Shastri feels that bringing Jasprit Bumrah too early would be too much of a risk ahead of a long cricket season. India are scheduled to play a Test series in England in June and Bumrah will be a key player on that tour.

“I think it’s high risk. There’s too much big cricket coming up for India. And at this stage of his (Jasprit Bumrah’s) career, I think he’s too precious to be just called on for one game out of the blue and asked to deliver,” Shastri said.

Shastri feels that the expectations will be high from the pacer on his comeback but it won’t be easy for him to deliver straight away. Shastri even claimed that Bumrah’s absence will reduce India’s chances of winning the Champions Trophy.

“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%,” he added.

Ricky Ponting blames Mohammed Shami’s absence for Jasprit Bumrah’s injury

On the other hand, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting echoed Shastri’s sentiments. Ponting feels that Mohammed Shami’s absence in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy put too much of a load on Jasprit Bumrah

“My biggest concern about India when they came for Australia in the Test series was Bumrah not having Shami there as a backup and him having to burden most of the load. And that’s probably what happened, and might even have something to do with why he (Jasprit Bumrah) got hurt,” said Ponting.

“He probably ended up having to bowl a bit more in that series with Shami not being there. So look, if Shami’s fit, that’s a positive,” he added.

Final call to be taken in few days

A call on Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the Champions Trophy will be taken before February 11 as it is the last date to make any changes in the squad. Bumrah is unlikely to play the ODI series against England which makes the chances of him playing the Champions Trophy even less.

India have selected Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh as the frontline pace options alongside Bumrah for the Champions Trophy with Hardik Pandya playing as the fast bowling allrounder. If Bumrah doesn’t make it, Harshit Rana is likely to replace him.