Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, and Afghanistan have all disclosed their squads for the Champions Trophy. Australia made their announcement on Monday. However, India has not yet unveiled their 15-member team for the upcoming ICC tournament, scheduled to commence on February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Although it was previously reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested an extension to announce their Champions Trophy squad, despite the January 12 deadline for submitting the provisional list, it has now emerged that the delay is primarily due to concerns regarding the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.

On Saturday, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, captain Rohit Sharma, and head coach Gautam Gambhir convened in Mumbai for a BCCI review meeting to finalize the Champions Trophy squad. However, a report from Dainik Jagran indicated that uncertainty remains regarding the fitness of Bumrah and Kuldeep, which has not yet been publicly addressed. An ICC source confirmed to the national daily that all cricket boards were required to submit their preliminary teams by midnight on January 12. This early submission is essential for the ICC to facilitate hospitality arrangements and visa processing. Nonetheless, all teams will have the opportunity to modify their provisional squads until February 13.

It is important to note that Bumrah experienced back spasms during the recent Sydney Test against Australia. While the BCCI's medical team has not officially commented on the severity of his injury, the Indian Express reported on Sunday that he is expected to miss the ODI series against England next month and will need to report to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru due to swelling in his back. Furthermore, it is anticipated that Bumrah may also miss the group-stage matches of the Champions Trophy as a result of this injury.

Kuldeep has been sidelined since the initial Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru in October due to a groin injury, which necessitated surgery in Germany. According to a report from Dainik Jagran, Kuldeep is currently recovering at the NCA in Bengaluru and is expected to regain fitness by the end of this month. This recovery timeline may allow him to be selected for the ODI series against England, scheduled to commence on February 6.

Bumrah, Kuldeep, and Shami in the Champions Trophy squad?

The selectors have reached a consensus to include Bumrah and Kuldeep in the Champions Trophy squad, despite concerns regarding their fitness. Mohammed Shami has also been added to the team.

Shami's prolonged absence from international cricket concluded with his selection for India's T20 squad, announced on Saturday, for a five-match series against England. His last appearance for the national team was during the 2023 Cricket World Cup held in India, where he took 24 wickets, contributing to the team's runner-up finish against Australia. The 34-year-old sustained an ankle injury during the tournament, necessitating an extended recovery period, which resulted in his absence from all international matches in 2024. He made his return to domestic cricket last October and was under close observation by the medical staff of the national team.

The T20I series against England is set to commence on January 22 in Kolkata, with the subsequent matches scheduled to take place in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai.

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