NEW DELHI: India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will be watching from the stands as Rohit Sharma’s side faces Pakistan in a high-stakes Champions Trophy showdown at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Bumrah, who was initially named in the squad, had to be replaced after failing to recover from the back injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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Bumrah’s absence is a significant blow to India’s bowling attack, as his lethal yorkers and death-over expertise have often troubled teams. His replacement, young pacer Harshit Rana, has stepped into the squad, but India will miss their most reliable fast bowler in this crucial fixture.
Pakistan, meanwhile, are under immense pressure after suffering a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their opening match. Mohammad Rizwan’s side now faces a must-win scenario against their biggest rivals to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Despite Bumrah’s absence, India’s bowling unit led by Mohammed Shami has been effective, with Shami picking up a five-wicket haul in the win against Bangladesh. Vice-captain Shubman Gill, who scored a century in that match, stressed the importance of staying focused.
“Pakistan have a good side, and it’s important for us to bring our A-game,” Gill said in the pre-match press conference.
With a packed 25,000-capacity stadium and millions watching worldwide, the stage is set for another intense India-Pakistan battle. While India aim to inch closer to the semi-finals, Pakistan will hope to rise to the occasion and pull off an upset.
