Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene has acknowledged that Jasprit Bumrah’s absence for the initial matches of IPL 2025 is a major challenge for the team. However, he remains optimistic about the star pacer’s recovery and potential return in early April.
Bumrah’s Recovery Progressing Well
Bumrah is currently recovering from a stress-related back injury at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Speaking at a press interaction in Mumbai, Jayawardene said,
“Bumrah has just started his progress. We have to wait for feedback from the BCCI medical team, but at the moment, everything is going well. He is in good spirits. Not having him is a challenge, as he is one of the best bowlers in the world and has been a fantastic performer for us over the years.”
Bumrah sustained the injury during the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney on January 4, which led to him missing the Champions Trophy, where India emerged victorious. This is the first time since his back surgery in March 2023 that he has been sidelined with such an issue.
Mumbai Indians’ Bowling Plans Without Bumrah
With Bumrah unavailable, MI will have to rethink their bowling strategy, especially in the death overs. Their pace attack features Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, and Corbin Bosch, along with Hardik Pandya and uncapped Indian pacers Ashwani Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju, Arjun Tendulkar, and Raj Angad Bawa.
Jayawardene emphasized the importance of other bowlers stepping up, saying,
“We will have to wait or find an opportunity for someone else to step up. The early part of the season allows us to try a few things and see how they work.”
When Can Bumrah Return?
According to reports, Bumrah is expected to join the MI squad in early April, potentially making a comeback in the second week of the tournament. However, his availability will depend on his recovery progress and medical clearance.
MI’s IPL 2025 Fixtures Without Bumrah
Mumbai Indians begin their IPL 2025 campaign with two away matches:
- March 23 – vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chennai
- March 29 – vs Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad
Their first home match is on March 31 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), followed by:
- April 4 – vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow
- April 7 – vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at home
With Bumrah’s possible return in early April, MI will hope to have him back before they enter the crucial middle phase of the tournament.
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