Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that Arshdeep Singh will replace Jasprit Bumrah for India in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. India ace speedster Bumrah got out from Rohit Sharma-led squad after getting an injury in Australia. He was initially part of the squad but the BCCI announced Harshit Rana as his replacement in the updated squad for the marquee event.
Ponting believes that Arshdeep Singh should receive the first opportunity to replace injured quick Bumrah and partner Mohammed Shami with the new ball for India at the ICC Champions Trophy.
"I would go with the left-armer and I'd go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah)," Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent episode of The ICC Review.
"We know how good he's been in T20 cricket and if you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with new ball and death overs and that's what India will miss.
Ponting believes that Harshit Rana is a good bowler with the new ball but Arshdeep has better bowling skills in the death over.
"That's taking nothing away from Harshit Rana because I think he has got a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball, but I don't think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh’s are.
"And just that left-arm variation, someone that can bowl left-arm with a new ball and move the new ball. We know how important they are and crucial they can be, especially in big tournaments when you've got a lot of right-handers at the top. I would personally lean that way if I was India."
Team India will start their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. The Men in Blue will play all their matches in Dubai. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan will take place on February 23 at the same venue.
