India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been officially ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a persistent lower back injury, as confirmed by the BCCI. The fast bowler, who stands as the highest wicket-taker in India's recent Test series against Australia, experienced debilitating back spasms during the final Test match late last month, subsequently missing the T20 series against England.

This absence is being perceived as a significant setback for the Indian team, especially with Bumrah being hailed as one of the sport's best all-format bowlers at just 31 years old. According to Channel News Asia, the BCCI has named Harshit Rana as Bumrah's replacement in the 15-member squad. The 23-year-old bowler has made an impression in his early career, having taken four wickets in two ODIs against England.

Additionally, the BCCI has brought in Varun Chakaravarthy, the reliable spinner, to substitute batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. Chakaravarthy had previously showcased his skills during the T20 series with England, where he claimed 14 wickets.

India is set to kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, followed by highly anticipated matches against rivals Pakistan and New Zealand. The team, led by captain Rohit Sharma and featuring key players like Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, aims to make a significant impact despite the loss of their star bowler. More details on the squad can be found in the report by BBC.