Siraj can still make a comeback [Source: @Hriday1812/X]
On Saturday afternoon, India announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue will take on Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand in three group-stage matches in the showpiece event.
Regarding their Champions Trophy squad, India have assembled a robust team for the tournament. While Shubman Gill was named the vice-captain, the exclusions of Mohammed Siraj and Sanju Samson raised a million eyebrows.
However, despite suffering from a back swelling, ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah managed to find a place in India's Champions Trophy squad. Having said that, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar revealed that they were unsure about his participation in the Champions Trophy. According to the latest reports, Bumrah will undergo some scans in February, after which the BCCI will take a call on his availability for the Champions Trophy.
In such a scenario, Bumrah, who will likely miss at least two ODIs against England, could still be ruled out of the Champions Trophy. It's worth mentioning that India can make changes to their squad till February 13. So, it's a no-brainer that they will replace Bumrah if he doesn't receive fitness clearance by the deadline.
As fitness concerns loom large over the India pacer, let's analyse and find out which players could replace him in the squad if he doesn't recover in time.
1. Mohammed Siraj
- India's experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj was excluded from the Champions Trophy squad, with the 2013 edition champions preferring Arshdeep Singh over him. However, if Bumrah doesn't get fully fit, India might go back to Siraj and recall him for the showpiece event.
- In 44 matches, Siraj has bagged 71 ODI wickets at an impressive strike rate of 27.8. He has plenty of experience in ODI cricket and could be a valuable addition to the Indian team in the Champions Trophy.
2. Harshit Rana
- In yesterday's press conference, Ajit Agarkar informed that Harshit Rana would be Bumrah's backup in the first two ODIs against England. So, if the MI pacer doesn't recover in time, India might think to rope in Rana as his replacement for the Champions Trophy.
- In 14 List A matches, Harshit Rana has scalped 22 wickets at a strike rate of 25.3. He can hit the deck hard and could play the third seamer's role, with Arshdeep and Shami bowling with the new ball.
3. Prasidh Krishna
- Prasidh Krishna is another seamer India might consider giving a wildcard entry to their Champions Trophy squad if Bumrah doesn't recover from the back swelling in time.
- Prasidh has had an impressive ODI career, with 29 wickets in 17 outings. He is a proper hit-the-deck bowler and can ensure variety in India's bowling unit.