After nearly three months on the sidelines due to a lower back injury, Jasprit Bumrah has rejoined the Mumbai Indians camp ahead of their crucial clash in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede. Bumrah, who last played a competitive match during the Sydney Test in early January, received medical clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and was welcomed into the MI setup on Saturday. (Schedule | Teams | Points Table)
In a heartfelt moment during MI’s practice session at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, Kieron Pollard – the team’s batting coach and longtime teammate – lifted Bumrah off the ground in a warm, celebratory gesture, shouting “Welcome, Mufasa!”
Head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that Bumrah is match-fit and available for selection. “He arrived last night. He’s training and should be available for the RCB game,” Jayawardene said at the pre-match press conference. While he did urge caution, given Bumrah is returning from a significant layoff, Jayawardene acknowledged that Bumrah’s presence alone brings immense value — both as a leader of the attack and a mentor to the younger bowlers.
“Boom’s coming back from a pretty decent layoff, so we need to give him that space," Jayawardene said. “Not expecting too much. Knowing Jasprit, he will be up for it. We’re very happy to have him in the camp; the experience he brings, that extra voice out there in the middle, chatting with Boulty [Trent Boult], chatting with Deepak [Chahar] or any other younger bowler, giving that advice is also very valuable for us. That’s what we’re looking forward to from him."
With just one win in four games in the ongoing IPL 2025, and their bowling unit under pressure, Bumrah’s availability could be the spark MI needs. With 165 wickets in 133 IPL matches, Jasprit Bumrah is more than just numbers. His ability to strike early in the powerplay and dominate at the death has made him one of the most feared bowlers in IPL history.
As MI prepare to face a charged-up RCB, led by Virat Kohli and Phil Salt at the top, all eyes will be on Bumrah.
