Mumbai Indians head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, has admitted that not having Jasprit Bumrah available for the beginning of IPL 2025 presents a challenge for the team. He expressed hope that Bumrah will rejoin the squad soon. Jayawardene mentioned during a press interaction in Mumbai that Bumrah is recovering at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is in good spirits.
Jayawardene stated that Bumrah has commenced his recovery progress, and they are awaiting updates from the BCCI medical team. He emphasized that while Bumrah’s recovery is currently progressing well, it is being monitored daily. He reiterated Bumrah’s importance as a world-class bowler and a valuable asset to Mumbai Indians over the years.
Acknowledging Bumrah’s absence as an opportunity, Jayawardene suggested it would allow other players to step up and showcase their abilities. He believes the early phase of the season provides a chance to experiment with team combinations and strategies.
Jasprit Bumrah has been a consistent player for Mumbai Indians since 2013, having taken 165 wickets in 133 matches. The only IPL season he missed was in 2023 due to a back injury.
Currently, Mumbai Indians’ fast bowling options include Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, and Corbin Bosch, along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya and young bowlers like Ashwani Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju, Arjun Tendulkar, and Raj Angad Bawa. Bumrah’s unavailability might necessitate a change in Mumbai Indians’ bowling strategy, especially considering Boult and Chahar’s specialization in powerplay bowling, potentially leaving a gap in death bowling experience.
Reports indicate that Jasprit Bumrah is recovering from a stress-related back injury sustained in early January and is expected to join the Mumbai Indians squad in early April.
Bumrah’s injury occurred during a Test match in Sydney in early January. Consequently, he missed the Champions Trophy earlier in March. This current back issue is his first since undergoing surgery in March 2023.
In January, Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, mentioned that the BCCI medical team had advised Bumrah to rest for at least five weeks following the Sydney Test. Despite being initially included in India’s provisional Champions Trophy squad, Bumrah’s discomfort persisted, leading to his exclusion from the final squad.
Mumbai Indians will play their first two IPL 2025 matches away from home, starting against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on March 23, followed by a match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 29. Their first home game is scheduled for March 31 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Subsequent matches in the first week of April include playing Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on April 4 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at home on April 7.
