Jasprit Bumrah, who has been out of action since January, is expected to rejoin MI by early April, subject to medical clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as per ESPNcricinfo. With three matches scheduled in March, MI might have to manage their pace attack without their premier fast bowler in the initial phase of the tournament.
Bumrah sustained a stress-related lower back injury during the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney on January 4. Following medical assessments, he was ruled out of the Champions Trophy, which India eventually won earlier this month. This marks the first recurrence of a back injury for the star pacer since undergoing surgery in March 2023.
India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar had revealed in January that Bumrah was advised to offload for at least five weeks after the SCG Test. While he was initially included in India’s provisional squad for the Champions Trophy, fresh scans in February confirmed lingering discomfort, leading to his exclusion from the final squad.
MI’s IPL 2025 schedule and Jasprit Bumrah’s possible return
Mumbai Indians begin their IPL campaign with two away fixtures, against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23 and Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 29. Their first home game is against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 31, followed by matches against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 4 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 7.
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While it remains uncertain how many games Bumrah will miss, ESPNcricinfo reports that his return will depend on his recovery progress and medical assessments over the coming weeks.
Shane Bond’s Comment On Bumrah
Bumrah’s distinctive bowling action has made him susceptible to back injuries, leading the BCCI’s medical team and selectors to carefully manage his workload.
Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who previously worked with Bumrah as MI’s bowling coach, issued a cautionary note, as cited by ESPNcricinfo, stating that another injury in the same area where he had surgery could be a “career ender.”
Bond, who battled persistent back injuries during his career, warned of the dangers of transitioning too quickly from T20 to Test cricket. With India set to tour England for a five-Test series in June, just a month after the IPL concludes, he highlighted the risks involved in Bumrah’s recovery timeline. “The danger zone for fast bowlers is when they transition too quickly from T20 to Test cricket,” Bond stated.
As MI await further updates, Bumrah’s availability for the latter half of the tournament remains uncertain, with his participation contingent on his recovery progress.
