Jayawardene says, Not having Bumrah at the start of IPL 2025 'a challenge'
Jasprit Bumrah will miss the initial matches of IPL 2025 as he continues to recover from a stress-related back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January. Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene acknowledged the challenge of starting the season without Bumrah, stating, "Not having him is a challenge," but expressed hope that he would rejoin the team soon. Currently, Bumrah is undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is reportedly in good spirits.
Jayawardene emphasized the need to monitor Bumrah's progress closely, as his recovery is on a day-to-day basis. The absence of the star bowler, who has been instrumental for MI since 2013, could lead to adjustments in the team's bowling strategy. MI boasts other pace options, including Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar, but they may lack experience in the death overs without Bumrah.
MI's first two matches are away games against Chennai Super Kings on March 23 and Gujarat Titans on March 29. They will play their first home match against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 31. The team hopes to find opportunities for other bowlers to step up during this early phase of the tournament.