Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has provided a crucial update on star pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Speaking at a pre-season press conference in Mumbai, Jayawardene confirmed that Bumrah will miss the initial matches of the tournament due to a stress-related back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year.
Bumrah, who has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is reportedly making steady progress. However, his recovery is being monitored on a day-to-day basis by the BCCI medical team. “Jasprit is in good spirits and has just started his progress. We have to wait and see what the feedback from the medical team is,” Jayawardene stated.
The absence of Bumrah, one of the world’s premier fast bowlers, poses a significant challenge for the Mumbai Indians. Jayawardene acknowledged the difficulty of replacing a player of Bumrah’s caliber but expressed optimism about the opportunity for other bowlers to step up. “Not having him is a challenge, but it also gives us a chance to try different combinations and see what works early in the season,” he added.
Mumbai Indians are set to begin their IPL 2025 campaign against the Chennai Super Kings on March 23 at Chepauk. While the team will miss Bumrah’s expertise, they have bolstered their pace attack with players like Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and Reece Topley. The team management remains hopeful for Bumrah’s return later in the tournament, depending on his recovery progress.
This update highlights the importance of player fitness and strategic planning as teams gear up for the highly anticipated IPL season. Fans will be eagerly awaiting further news on Bumrah’s comeback.
