India will be without their premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, and the team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir wants to look past the setback and focus only on what he has available with him to bring the trophy home.
Bumrah’s back injury, which he suffered during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney earlier this year, has ruled him out of the showpiece 50-over tournament that will run from February 19 to March 9.
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Bumrah’s loss turned into Harshit Rana’s gain, and Gambhir wants the young bowlers in the squad to consider this as their chance and make it count.
“Someone missing out an opportunity could be a great opportunity for someone else as well, that is how sport goes. Hopefully, these guys (Rana and Arshdeep Singh) can deliver, put their hand up and do the job for the team,” said Gambhir after India hammered England in the third ODI on Wednesday to complete a 3-0 whitewash.
In Bumrah’s absence, Mohammed Shami, who recently made his India comeback after a year-long absence, will be the most experienced bowler in the squad.
“…It’s a great opportunity for them to try and deliver for the country, (it is) as simple as it can get. What we don’t have, we don’t have. What we have is what we have, and we’re going to try and go with a very clear mind,” Gambhir added.
“I think the guys have shown some really good signs. Harshit has come along really well. Arsh (Arshdeep) was really good today (Wednesday) as well. Obviously, you would always miss a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah,” Gambhir said. “But then, it is always good to have someone like Mohammed Shami back with his experience and quality.
“We know that he (Bumrah) is an important factor, but as I just mentioned, people like Harshit, Arsh (and) Mohammed Shami, all these guys will put their hand up,” the coach concluded.