In a major boost for the Mumbai Indians (MI), head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will be available for their IPL 2025 clash against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Speaking on Sunday, April 6, he mentioned that the team’s star fast bowler has bounced back from his fitness concerns. Bumrah will be eligible for selection when MI faces RCB in their next match. The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host the Mumbai Indians as they prepare to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their fifth game of the season on Monday, April 7.
“He’s (Bumrah) fit to play, he’s practicing today, and is expected to be available [for the RCB clash]. He landed last night, completed his sessions with the NCA [National Cricket Academy, now Centre of Excellence] to wrap things up, and has been handed over to our medical team. He’s bowling today, so everything looks good,” Jayawardene mentioned during the pre-match media interaction.
A Pillar of MI Since 2013
Jasprit Bumrah rejoined the Mumbai Indians squad on Saturday after receiving clearance from the BCCI’s medical team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He is scheduled to take part in training on Sunday, a day ahead of their fixture at the Wankhede Stadium. Given that MI has suffered three losses in their first four matches of IPL 2025, Bumrah’s comeback serves as a major boost to their bowling lineup. The attack had earlier relied on several relatively inexperienced Indian pacers, including Vignesh Puthur, Ashwani Kumar, and Satyanarayana Raju.
It’s been some time since Jasprit Bumrah last appeared on the field. His most recent competitive outing was during the Sydney Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he unfortunately picked up a stress reaction in his back. The injury ruled him out of India’s home series against England and also ruled him out for the Champions Trophy during his recovery phase.
In recent weeks, Bumrah has been steadily increasing his bowling workload at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. He has understandably taken a measured approach to his recovery aiming to ensure he is completely fit before making his return to competitive cricket. This cautious path is also likely with an eye on India’s upcoming five-Test series in England is scheduled to commence on June 28.
During his IPL career, Bumrah has been a loyal servant of the Mumbai Indians having been part of the franchise since 2013. He has developed into an indispensable part of their bowling attack taking an impressive 165 wickets in 133 games. The only season he has missed playing in the IPL was in 2023, due to an earlier back injury.
READ ALSO: “Not Done Yet”: MS Dhoni Addresses IPL Retirement Rumours on Latest Podcast
