Champions Trophy 2025: Jasprit Bumrah and two pacers to miss India vs England series to ensure ICT participation - Report

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India are set to face England in a five-match T20I and three-match ODI series beginning January 22 but key pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep are expected to miss the action to prioritize their fitness for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Akash Deep, who missed the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to back pain, is likely to remain sidelined for at least a month. He will report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for recovery and rehabilitation, reported Cricbuzz.

Despite not yet debuting in white-ball cricket, Akash Deep's recent performances have made him a contender for future opportunities. Bumrah and Siraj, who bowled over 150 overs each in the Border-Gavaskar series, are also set to skip the England series to manage their workload. Bumrah's participation in the Champions Trophy hinges on his recovery from back spasms, which prevented him from bowling in the second innings of the Sydney Test. He will undergo fitness assessments at the NCA.

There has been much debate on the extent of Jasprit Bumrah's injury but an official update is still awaited. While his teammate Prasidh Krishna said during the last press conference in Sydney that Bumrah has back spasms, former cricketers have feared much worse.

It's worth noting that resting three of the frontline pacers means Mohammed Shami, who is on a comeback trail since the World Cup 2023, is all likely to feature in the India vs England series, subject to his fitness at the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The BCCI selection committee, expected to convene around January 12, will finalize the squads for the England series and a provisional Champions Trophy lineup. India's schedule against England includes five T20Is, starting in Kolkata, and three ODIs, concluding on February 12.

With the Champions Trophy slated for February 19 to March 9, ensuring the fitness of frontline bowlers remains India's priority as they aim for success in the marquee tournament.