Kapil Dev Weighs in on India’s Bowling Woes Ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev has shared his insights on India’s pace bowling lineup as they prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The national team has named a squad featuring three seam bowlers, accompanied by all-rounder Hardik Pandya. However, concerns arise as two of the pace attackers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, are not completely fit.
Bumrah’s participation in the tournament remains uncertain after he sustained an injury during the fifth Test match against Australia in Sydney. On the other hand, Shami has recently returned to the cricketing arena after a 14-month break due to a heel injury. Kapil has commented on the challenges faced by these two bowlers, emphasizing that while Shami’s strong mindset may aid his recovery, returning to peak performance could take some time.
“Recovering from an injury is certainly challenging, but with the right mentality, it becomes manageable. The real question is whether a player can perform at the same level after an injury. It takes time to regain your rhythm, especially for bowlers. Shami possesses great talent, and we hope he makes a full recovery without any further setbacks. If he needs additional time to get back to full fitness, so be it, as injuries can linger in a bowler’s mind,” Kapil Dev expressed in an interview with Cricket Adda.
He also noted that Bumrah’s absence would be significant for India if he is unable to recover in time, drawing attention to the outstanding performances he has delivered over the past two years.
“There’s absolutely no denying Bumrah’s impact in the last couple of years; few fast bowlers worldwide have matched his achievements. Losing players of his caliber poses a challenge for the team. We hope he’s back on the field soon,” Kapil added.
Both Shami and Bumrah were key players in India’s successful run during the recent ODI World Cup 2023, with Shami finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 24 wickets and Bumrah not far behind, claiming 20. Their partnership would be vital if they join forces again in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
India is set to compete in Group A alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, beginning their campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh.
