Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
NEW DELHI: As they await word from the medical team regarding the lead pacer, chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated on Saturday that Jasprit Bumrah might not be able to play in the first two ODIs against England. As a result, Harshit Rana was named as a replacement.
Poll
What Should Team India’s Focus Be in Upcoming ODIs?
However, the team for the Champions Trophy, which comes after the three-match rubber against England, included the India pace spearhead.
“Bumrah has been told to off-load for five weeks after and he won’t be available for the first two ODIs against England. We are waiting on his fitness and will know his status in early February from the medical team,” Agarkar said during a press conference in Mumbai which he addressed alongside India captain Rohit Sharma.
Rohit added, “We’re not sure of Jasprit Bumrah at this stage, so we wanted someone who can take up that role, we picked Arshdeep Singh“.
Bumrah was unable to bowl on the fifth day of the Sydney Test match against Australia due to a back spasm.
The final squad for the Champions Trophy must be submitted to the ICC by February 11.
Before the Champions Trophy starts on February 19, India will play three bilateral ODIs against England on February 6, 9, and 12-their first 50-over matches since the August trip of Sri Lanka last year.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (only for England series)