The deadline for submitting the final team to the ICC for the ICC Champions Trophy is ending. All the eight teams participating in the tournament have to submit their final 15-member team list to the ICC. The tournament is starting from February 19 and the Indian team, a strong contender to win the title, is confused about the availability of fast bowler Jaspreet Bumrah.

Bumrah is included in the 15-member team.

Bumrah's name was included in India's 15-member preliminary team announced last month for the Champions Trophy, but he could not play in the ODI series against England, which is India's last series before the Champions Trophy starting on February 19. Bumrah was injured during the fifth Test played against Australia in Sydney, and he has not been able to play any match since then. Even a member of the Indian team does not have any information about Bumrah.

Harshit-Varun got a chance to debut

Amidst the uncertainty over Bumrah's availability, India gave two bowlers a chance to debut in ODIs for the ODI series against England. Fast bowler Harshit Rana, who is considered a contender to make a place in the team in Bumrah's absence, made his debut in the first ODI played in Nagpur and has played both the matches of the series so far and has also impressed in the middle overs.

Decision on Bumrah's availability is possible today

On the other hand, India also gave a chance to debut to spinner Varun Chakraborty, who was successful in impressing in the five-match T20 series against England. Harshit can be a suitable candidate to replace Bumrah in his absence, as he has shown aggression in fast bowling. If Bumrah is not available, then Varun is also a contender to join the team in his place. The fast bowling department of the Indian team includes Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen on Bumrah's fitness, and a three-member team is examining Bumrah at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). It is believed that a decision will be taken by Tuesday regarding Bumrah's availability in the Champions Trophy.

If there is a possibility of Bumrah being fit to play in the middle or final stage of the tournament, he will remain a part of the 15-member team. As per ICC rules, the replacement of any player after February 11 will require the approval of the tournament's technical committee. India is included in Group A in the Champions Trophy, which also includes Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand. India will play all its matches in Dubai under the hybrid model as it refused to go to Pakistan for this tournament.

India's 15-member preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy is as follows...
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.

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