Jasprit Bumrah’s absence loomed large over the Mumbai Indians (MI) as they kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a disappointing four-wicket loss to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 23. The star pacer’s presence was sorely missed, especially in the death overs, where MI struggled to contain the opposition.
Bumrah has been out of action since the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test against Australia in Sydney, where he suffered a lower back injury. His recovery timeline kept him out of India’s victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, and now, his absence is proving to be a challenge for MI in the early stages of the IPL.
As MI gears up to face Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on March 29, head coach Mahela Jayawardene provided an update on Bumrah’s fitness. Addressing the media, he confirmed that the premier pacer is still undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
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“Everyone is available except for Bumrah. Like I said in my last interview, he is progressing on a daily basis, following his recovery program,” Mahela Jayawardene stated.
While reports earlier suggested Bumrah would miss the initial few matches of the season, Jayawardene refrained from committing to a specific return date.
IPL 2025: ‘No timeline for Bumrah’s return’, says MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene#IPL2025 #JaspritBumrah #MumbaiIndians
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“So far, everything looks fine, but we haven’t received any definite timeline from the NCA. We’ll wait for further updates,” he added. Despite the high-scoring nature of IPL 2025, Jayawardene remains confident in MI’s bowling attack. “We have an experienced set of bowlers who understand how to adapt. Every venue and opposition brings different challenges, and we’ll be prepared,” he assured.
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Meanwhile, Arjun Tendulkar, who was recovering from an illness, is available for selection. Additionally, a 31-year-old pacer is set to join the squad in April, while Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar continue to lead the pace attack.
Hardik Pandya, who faced criticism last season after replacing Rohit Sharma as captain, is expected to receive a more positive reception from fans as he returns after serving a one-match suspension for a slow over-rate.
