BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issues big statement on Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in Champions Trophy 2025

India under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma are set to be in action in the highly anticipated upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Men in Blue will start their journey with the campaign opener against Bangladesh on February 20, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Rohit and co. are expected to depart for Dubai on Sunday, February 16.

Just a week before the tournament, the Indian camp faced a major setback as their star pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, was ruled out of the marquee international tournament. Later, the management announced the young KKR pacer Harshit Rana as the replacement for Bumrah in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia made a big statement about Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from Team India in the prestigious cricket quadrennial. 

I don't think Jasprit Bumrah's absence will have any major issue – Devajit Saikia

Saikia also cleared his stance on the question if India will miss the star pacer in the Champions Trophy 2025.

“We have picked the best team for the Champions Trophy. And I believe we will win the trophy. India have such a big bench strength, and I don't think it (Jasprit Bumrah's absence) will have any major issue with the team combination,” Saikia told IANS’ Chetan Sharma on Friday.

“Everything is very positive in the team (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in form); see the England series; the results are in front of you. The conditions will be more or less the same in Dubai, like the Indian conditions. India came out in such a good manner (against England) with a series of whitewash in ODIs and a 4-1 win in T20Is. The morale and spirit of the team is at the highest level,” he added later.

Notably, Rohit Sharma’s men are placed in tournament’s Group A with the arch-rivals Pakistan, alongside Bangladesh and New Zealand as the two other teams in the pool.