Champions Trophy: Jaiswal in, Siraj Out

Bumrah included in 15, but selectors will wait till February 12 to see if he recovers from his back issue

- Rasesh Mandani

MUMBAI: India will wait as far as the tournament regulations permit to see if speedster Jasprit Bumrah regains match fitness after his back trouble for the Champions Trophy (February 19 to March 9). The ace pacer was picked, subject to fitness, in India's 15-player squad by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee that met at BCCI's Mumbai headquarters on Saturday.

As reported earlier, it is hoped that Bumrah can play the last of the three ODIs against England on February 12, prove his match fitness and take the flight to Dubai, where India will play their matches in the Pakistan-hosted tournament.

Pacer Mohammed Siraj was a surprise exclusion, with India going in with four spinners, three specialist pacers and a pace-bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya.

Siraj, who had come for praise from head coach Gautam Gambhir for the "outstanding efforts" he put in during the Australia Test series and played the entire 2023 ODI World Cup (11 matches, 14 wkts, ER 5.68) missed out.

"We wanted to pick a squad where we have options of somebody to bowl with the new ball and at the back end," Rohit said. "Obviously, with Bumrah, we're not sure. We wanted Arshdeep to come and play that role of bowling at the back end and Shami, we saw what he did with the new ball, and that is where we feel that Siraj's effectiveness comes down a little bit if he's not going to take the new ball."

Siraj though could have been picked as cover for Bumrah. Instead, young pacer Harshit Rana, who Rohit said has "shown the potential that he's got something about him", has been named for the England ODIs, which will serve as dress-rehearsal for Champions Trophy. It is learnt that Harshit would step in if Bumrah doesn't recover in time.