By Karan Agrawal 
India’s former Head Coach Ravi Shastri has warned Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir not to rush Jasprit Bumrah back for the Champions Trophy scheduled to begin on February 19 amidst growing concern about his fitness for the multination tournament to be played in Pakistan and Dubai. Bumrah picked up a back injury during the fifth and final test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy last month and was unable to bowl in Australia’s second innings. After bowling a couple of overs in the early stages of the second day’s play, the fast bowler left the ground and was taken for scans. He did come out to bat for India in the second innings but wasn’t able to make a significant contribution.
The Concern
Bumrah’s injury has put his participation in the Champions Trophy in doubt which can be a big blow to India’s chances of winning the tournament considering the fact that Bumrah is a vital part of India’s bowling lineup. Talking about Bumrah’s availability for the Champions Trophy India’s former head coach Ravi Shastri said rushing back Bumrah into the squad might be risky considering the amount of cricket that is lined up after the Champions Trophy.
Expert’s Corner
“I think it’s high risk. There’s too much big cricket coming up for India. At this stage of his [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. 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,” Shastri said on the ICC Review Show.
The Opportunity
“Bumrah not fit will reduce India’s chances [of winning the Champions Trophy] by 30 percent, literally by 30-35 percent,” Shastri said. With a fully fit Bumrah playing, you are guaranteed of those death overs. It would’ve been a different ball game altogether,” he added. Following the uncertainty over Bumrah’s participation in the Champions Trophy the selectors have removed him from the squad for the ODI series against England and have added Varun Chakarvarthy rewarding him for his match-winning performances in the recently concluded T20I series against the same opposition.