India, Feb. 15 -- One of the biggest reasons why India did not want to risk Jasprit Bumrah for the Champions Trophy 2025 was that the fast bowler is being looked at as India's future Test captain. BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had a difficult choice to make when the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team, headed by Nitin Patel, kept the ball in his court regarding Bumrah's Champions Trophy participation. In their report, the NCA said that there was nothing wrong in Bumrah's latest scan reports, but the No.1-ranked pacer had yet to start bowling in full tilt. Since the Champions Trophy was barely a week away, the selectors and the team management did not want to take a chance.

The need to protect Bumrah was not just because...