Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene stated that not having Jasprit Bumrah for the initial matches of IPL 2025 presents a significant challenge. He expressed hope that Bumrah will be able to rejoin the team soon.
During a press interaction in Mumbai, Jayawardene mentioned that Bumrah is currently recovering at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is in good spirits. He added that Bumrah has begun his recovery progress, and they are awaiting feedback from the BCCI medical team. The situation is being monitored daily, and while things are progressing well, his absence is undoubtedly a challenge as Bumrah is recognized as one of the world’s best bowlers and a key player for Mumbai Indians.
Jayawardene emphasized the need for other players to step up in Bumrah’s absence, viewing it as an opportunity for the team to explore different strategies and see what works, especially during the early part of the season.
Jasprit Bumrah has been a part of Mumbai Indians since 2013, and has taken 165 wickets in 133 IPL matches. He only missed the 2023 season 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 captain Hardik Pandya and uncapped players like Ashwani Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju, Arjun Tendulkar, and Raj Angad Bawa. Bumrah’s absence may require a change in the team’s bowling strategy, particularly in the death overs, as Boult and Chahar are primarily known for their powerplay bowling.
Reports indicate that Bumrah is recovering from a stress-related back injury sustained in January and is expected to join the Mumbai Indians squad in early April.
Bumrah’s injury occurred on January 4th during the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney. He was also unable to participate in the Champions Trophy earlier in March. This current back issue is the first since his surgery in March 2023.
In January, when announcing the Champions Trophy squad, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that the BCCI medical team had advised Bumrah to rest for at least five weeks following the SCG Test. Although initially included in India’s provisional squad for the Champions Trophy, Bumrah continued to experience discomfort and was ultimately not included in the final squad after undergoing scans in early February.
Mumbai Indians will play their first two IPL 2025 games away, starting against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on March 23rd, followed by a match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 29th. Their first home game is on March 31st against Kolkata Knight Riders.
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