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Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has admitted that he has no update regarding pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's fitness ahead of the deadline to make changes to ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad. Bumrah is part of India's squad for the mega event but his participation is subject to fitness.
"That’s something the physio would know," Kotak said in the pre-match press conference on February 8 when asked about an update.
Earlier this week, Bumrah reported to the NCA in Bengaluru but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team is yet to provide a substantial update. Bumrah was expected to play in the third ODI against England but was ruled out of the series. In his place, Harshit Rana made his ODI debut in Nagpur.
However, Kotak has backed the current side but did not share the playing XI for the second ODI
"The entire team looks solid. Whether there is any experiment, new players will come to the XI or some senior players will be left out. It's the head coach and captain who will discuss and they will decide. So, I don't think I can make any comment on that," he said.
In the first ODI, Mohammed Shami made his comeback to the format. Kotak has assured that the veteran pacer is completely fit. On the other hand, he did not give any details why Rana played in place of an in-form left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.
"That decision lies with the head coach and captain," said the batting coach.
Arshdeep was the highest wicket-taker in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. Skipper Rohit Sharma had said while announcing the squad that they chose Arshdeep for his ability to bowl with the new and old ball, especially when Bumrah is yet to recover from injury.
India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja
