Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan says Rohit Sharma's squad will 'strongly feel' the loss of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Bumrah has been forced out of the eight-team event owing to a lower back ailment, and Harshit Rana has been appointed as his substitute in the Indian team.
Dhawan expressed his delight over the resumption of the famous competition, recalling his own experience in the 2013 edition.
"It is a great feeling to have the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy back. I remember playing in it for the first time in 2013, and I loved it. There’s already a buzz around this tournament," ICC quoted Dhawan as saying.
While backing India as a strong contenders, Dhawan acknowledged that Bumrah’s absence would be a major setback.
"I can’t look past India. I am quite confident about them—they have a solid team and played very well against England in their recent ODI series. But my concern is that they are going to miss Jasprit Bumrah. There’s no doubt he will be a huge loss, and they will feel it very strongly," he added.
Dhawan emphasized Bumrah's importance in important ICC tournaments by showcasing his distinct bowling motion, accuracy, and poise under duress.
"For me, he is the best bowler in the world, and his accuracy is hard to replicate. He is also a very calm character, which is crucial in a big ICC event like this," he stated.
But Dhawan was upbeat about Rana's chances of having an influence in Dubai. In his recent white-ball debut against England, the teenage bowler took nine wickets in four games, including three One-Day Internationals.
"Harshit Rana’s inclusion is exciting — keep an eye on him, he could have a breakout tournament. I like his attitude; he’s a go-getter who isn’t afraid of challenges. We saw in the England series that he is in good form. If he seizes this opportunity, he could provide a real x-factor for India," Dhawan noted.
Dhawan was confident that the strong India batting unit will fire, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
"There are many reasons to be optimistic about India. They have a well-balanced batting lineup with a mix of experience and youth. Shubman Gill, in particular, is so consistent, and I believe he will have a great tournament.
Rohit Sharma has regained form, Virat Kohli is there — it’s a top side that will be tough to stop. India performed well in the last Champions Trophy but fell short in the final. However, they played some amazing cricket, and the squad knows what they are capable of," he added.
India begins their Champions Trophy 2025 on February 20 against Bangladesh.
(ICC inputs)
