Mumbai Indians (MI) will be without their premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, in today’s match against Gujarat Titans (GT). The pacer, who has been recovering from a lower back injury, is yet to receive medical clearance for a return to competitive cricket.
MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that while Bumrah is making progress in his rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, there is no confirmed date for his comeback.
“On a daily basis, he’s going through his programme. So far, everything seems okay, but there were no timelines given by NCA, so we’ll wait on that,” Jayawardene said ahead of the match.
Bumrah suffered a lower back injury during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney earlier this year. The injury prevented him from bowling in the second innings, and he was subsequently ruled out of India’s successful Champions Trophy campaign. Since then, he has been undergoing rehabilitation, focusing on regaining match fitness.
While he was initially expected to return early in IPL 2025. MI’s medical team and the BCCI are being cautious with his workload. They are ensuring that he does not risk aggravating the injury by returning too soon.
With Bumrah sidelined, Mumbai Indians have had to adjust their bowling strategy. The franchise has relied on experienced pacers like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar. Young seamer Satyanarayana Raju made his debut in the season opener against Chennai Super Kings.
MI will also be boosted by the return of captain Hardik Pandya. He missed their first match due to a one-game suspension from IPL 2024. However, the absence of Bumrah remains a significant concern, especially against Gujarat Titans’ strong batting lineup.
There is no official confirmation on when Bumrah will be match-fit. The BCCI and MI management are monitoring his progress closely. He could return in April if his rehabilitation continues smoothly.
For now, MI will have to cope without their ace bowler as they take on GT in a crucial IPL 2025 fixture.
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