Star Cricketer Likely to be Vice-Captain for Champions Trophy!

As the countdown to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 begins, excitement is building. Scheduled to take place next month in Pakistan and Dubai, the mega tournament is expected to draw significant attention from cricket fans worldwide. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to announce the Indian squad in the coming days, with reports suggesting that Rohit Sharma will lead the team. However, speculation about who will be appointed vice-captain has created a buzz among cricket circles.

According to a report by The Times of India, selectors are considering star pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the vice-captaincy role, provided he recovers fully from his back injury. This possibility has surprised many cricket enthusiasts, as Bumrah has rarely been considered for a vice-captaincy role in limited-overs cricket.

During Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach, Hardik Pandya frequently served as vice-captain for both the ODI and T20 formats, with KL Rahul also stepping into the role on occasion. However, under the new leadership of Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill has recently been entrusted with vice-captaincy duties in ODIs and T20s. Despite this, selectors reportedly believe that Bumrah's leadership during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy—where he not only delivered a stellar personal performance but also captained India in two matches—positions him as a strong candidate for vice-captaincy in the Champions Trophy. Notably, Bumrah was India’s captain in their only Test victory during the series in Australia.

Jasprit Bumrah, who sustained an injury during the final Test against Australia, is now almost certain to be available for the Champions Trophy. He is expected to recover in time for the tournament. However, his participation in the three-match ODI series against England, starting on February 6, remains uncertain as of now.