Former Australia captain backs Arshdeep Singh over Harshit Rana as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah in the Champions Trophy playing XI for India. India has named Harshit Rana instead of Mohammed Siraj for the injured Bumrah. Rana was added to the three-match ODI series against England. He even played all three ODIs while Arshdeep only played the third ODI replacing Mohammad Shami. Countering India’s choice, Ponting feels that Arshdeep is the best substitute for Bumrah. Speaking on the ICC Review, Ponting said, "I would go with the left-armer, and I'd go with Arshdeep (to replace Bumrah)...We know how good he's been in T20 cricket and if you think about the skill set, he probably provides a similar skill set to what Bumrah does with new ball and death overs and that's what India will miss. That's taking nothing away from Harshit Rana because I think he has got a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball, but I don't think his death skills are as good as what Arshdeep Singh’s are...And just that left-arm variation, someone that can bowl left-arm with a new ball and move the new ball. We know how important they are and crucial they can be, especially in big tournaments when you've got a lot of right-handers at the top. I would personally lean that way if I was India.” Read also: Indian Team Rift: Star Wicketkeeper in Cold War with Gambhir! India's bowling Dilemma: Bumrah Out Jasprit Bumrah’s injury has left a void in India’s bowling attack ahead of the Champions Trophy. Initially named in the squad, he was ruled out due to a back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney. Harshit Rana has impressed in all formats, taking three-wicket hauls on his Test, ODI, and T20I debuts. However, his economy in powerplays remains a concern. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, despite limited ODI experience, has proven his ability to swing the new ball and deliver yorkers at the death. With Mohammed Shami still regaining full form and Hardik Pandya handling middle-overs, the decision on Bumrah’s replacement will be made by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, the Champions Trophy starts today, with India playing the next match, against Bangladesh, on February 20, at Dubai.