The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, shared his thoughts on the team’s bowling unit as they prepare for the three-match ODI series against England. This series is a key step in India’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy.
A major concern for the team is the fitness of their star fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. The 31-year-old pacer suffered a back spasm during the final Border-Gavaskar Test against Australia in January. Although Bumrah is included in India’s Champions Trophy squad, Rohit mentioned that the team management is still uncertain about his availability for the tournament.
Before the first ODI in Nagpur, Rohit said, “We are waiting for an update on Jasprit’s scan, which will happen in the next few days.”
While not ruling out Bumrah’s participation, Rohit added, “Once we get the scan results, we’ll have more clarity. We’ll know if he can play in the last ODI or not.”
Initially, Bumrah was expected to play in the third ODI, but his name was missing from the squad announced on Tuesday. Instead, India included Varun Chakravarthy, who earned his maiden ODI call-up following a brilliant T20I series against England, where he picked 14 wickets in five matches.
Praising Chakravarthy, Rohit said, “Even though his performance was in T20s, he has something special. We wanted to explore that option and see how he fits into our plans.
“This series gives us a chance to play him and assess his abilities. Right now, we’re not thinking about selecting him for the Champions Trophy, but if he performs well and meets the requirements, he will definitely be in contention.”
Another positive for India is the return of experienced pacer Mohammed Shami. Shami, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup, has returned after a long injury layoff. In the recent T20I series against England, he took three wickets in two matches. He also played in the domestic season before his return to international cricket.
When asked about Shami’s form, Rohit strongly backed the senior bowler. “Shami has been playing for the past 10-12 years and has delivered consistently for the team. Look at how he bowled in the World Cup.”
He added, “Even if a few domestic games didn’t go as expected, it doesn’t take away from his quality. He has won us so many matches and taken so many important wickets. We must remember his contributions.”
The first ODI between India and England is set to take place in Nagpur on February 6, Thursday.The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, shared his thoughts on the team’s bowling unit as they prepare for the three-match ODI series against England. This series is a key step in India’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy.
A major concern for the team is the fitness of their star fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. The 31-year-old pacer suffered a back spasm during the final Border-Gavaskar Test against Australia in January. Although Bumrah is included in India’s Champions Trophy squad, Rohit mentioned that the team management is still uncertain about his availability for the tournament.
Before the first ODI in Nagpur, Rohit said, “We are waiting for an update on Jasprit’s scan, which will happen in the next few days.”
While not ruling out Bumrah’s participation, Rohit added, “Once we get the scan results, we’ll have more clarity. We’ll know if he can play in the last ODI or not.”
Initially, Bumrah was expected to play in the third ODI, but his name was missing from the squad announced on Tuesday. Instead, India included Varun Chakravarthy, who earned his maiden ODI call-up following a brilliant T20I series against England, where he picked 14 wickets in five matches.
Praising Chakravarthy, Rohit said, “Even though his performance was in T20s, he has something special. We wanted to explore that option and see how he fits into our plans.
“This series gives us a chance to play him and assess his abilities. Right now, we’re not thinking about selecting him for the Champions Trophy, but if he performs well and meets the requirements, he will definitely be in contention.”
Another positive for India is the return of experienced pacer Mohammed Shami. Shami, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup, has returned after a long injury layoff. In the recent T20I series against England, he took three wickets in two matches. He also played in the domestic season before his return to international cricket.
When asked about Shami’s form, Rohit strongly backed the senior bowler. “Shami has been playing for the past 10-12 years and has delivered consistently for the team. Look at how he bowled in the World Cup.”
He added, “Even if a few domestic games didn’t go as expected, it doesn’t take away from his quality. He has won us so many matches and taken so many important wickets. We must remember his contributions.”
The first ODI between India and England is set to take place in Nagpur on February 6, Thursday.
