NEW DELHI: Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan believes that Rohit Sharma’s team will ‘strongly feel’ the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Bumrah has been ruled out of the eight-team tournament due to a lower back injury, with Harshit Rana named as his replacement in India’s squad.
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Expressing his excitement about the return of the prestigious tournament, Dhawan recalled his own experience in the 2013 edition.
“It is a great feeling to have the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy back. I remember playing in it for the first time in 2013, and I loved it. There’s already a buzz around this tournament,” ICC quoted Dhawan as saying.
While backing India as strong contenders, Dhawan acknowledged that Bumrah’s absence would be a major setback.
“I can’t look past India. I am quite confident about them—they have a solid team and played very well against England in their recent ODI series. But my concern is that they are going to miss Jasprit Bumrah. There’s no doubt he will be a huge loss, and they will feel it very strongly,” he added.
Dhawan emphasised Bumrah’s value in major ICC events, highlighting his unique bowling action, accuracy, and composure under pressure.
“For me, he is the best bowler in the world, and his accuracy is hard to replicate. He is also a very calm character, which is crucial in a big ICC event like this,” he stated.
However, Dhawan expressed optimism about Rana’s potential to make an impact in Dubai. The young pacer made his white-ball debut against England recently, claiming nine wickets in four matches, including three ODIs.
“Harshit Rana’s inclusion is exciting — keep an eye on him, he could have a breakout tournament. I like his attitude; he’s a go-getter who isn’t afraid of challenges. We saw in the England series that he is in good form. If he seizes this opportunity, he could provide a real x-factor for India,” Dhawan noted.
The former opener also praised the strong form of Indian batters, including captain Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.
“There are many reasons to be optimistic about India. They have a well-balanced batting lineup with a mix of experience and youth. Shubman Gill, in particular, is so consistent, and I believe he will have a great tournament,” Dhawan said.
“Rohit Sharma has regained form, Virat Kohli is there — it’s a top side that will be tough to stop. India performed well in the last Champions Trophy but fell short in the final. However, they played some amazing cricket, and the squad knows what they are capable of,” he added.
India will kick off their campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on February 20.