Bumrah Missing Champions Trophy Will Be Like Ronaldo Missing Football World Cup: Harmison

Former England seamer Steve Harminson feels India’s ace paceman Jasprit Bumrah missing the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19, would be like Portugal’s star Cristiano Ronaldo not featuring in the football World Cup.

Team India are reportedly set to make a final call on Bumrah’s availability for the 50-over event on February 11. The pacer hasn’t played for the country since the Sydney Test, where he walked off the field during the first innings of the Test. 

While Bumrah has been included in India’s provisional squad, there’s a high chance he could miss out on the competition entirely, given rumours of a stress fracture on his back.

The 31-year-old was expected to return in action for the third ODI against England on February 12 but is now in Bengaluru at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which will provide the last update on his availability for the Champions Trophy.

“He’s Jasprit Bumrah. For me, you can’t replace Jasprit Bumrah anytime. And I mean, I would even go up to the morning of the final to take him that far because he’s Jasprit Bumrah. He’s the best in the world. So that would be my take on from an Indian point of view,” Harminson said on TalkSport cricket.

“It’s like going to a football World Cup with your best striker, Cristiano Ronaldo. 15 years ago you don’t replace Ronaldo until you have to replace him. So I think I would imagine that’s what India will do.

“Just put him in the squad and carry him around in a sedan chair. It’s a 14-man squad. That’s good enough to get me through the group games. We might get him by the semi-final, more than the semifinal. If he’s not fit, we’ll replace him just in case we have another injury. But he’s Jasprit Bumrah.”

India will commence their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. The Men in Blue are placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand.