This seems to be a major blow towards Mumbai Indians as they aspire to perform better in IPL 2025 as compared to 2024: ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah may miss the first two weeks of the tournament, as reported by The Times of India.
The report specifies that Bumrah will be out for the first week or two of the Indian Premier League, and he might be joining the Mumbai camp only next month.
Bumrah has been rehabilitating at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, after being ruled out of attending the Champions Trophy due to injury to his lower back.
“Bumrah’s medical reports are okay. He has resumed bowling at the CoE. However, it is unlikely he would be able to bowl at the beginning of IPL, in another fortnight. As per the current status now, the first week of April looks a more realistic date for him regarding high-intensity cricket again,” a BCCI insider revealed to The Times of India.
Going this route, Bumrah would miss out on three or four initial matches for the Mumbai Indians. According to the report, he still has not begun bowling full tilt.
“It is a very standard operating procedure. The medical team will, over time, come to build up his workload and intensity, but unless he can bowl for a few days at full tilt without discomfort, the medical team is unlikely to clear him,” the source said.
Moreover, the report states that Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mayank Yadav will also be in the camp next month, which indicates that he will be missing out on four games, too.
After IPL ends on May 25, India would appear in England around mid-June for a five-Test series, with the first starting June 20. The eventual target is getting Bumrah as fit as possible for all five Tests.
With so much left in uncertainty whether Rohit Sharma will continue beyond the Champions Trophy, Bumrah is being touted as the next Test skipper.
According to the report, the selectors want to plan the whole tour around the latter and Bumrah since the India pacer and Mohammed Shami are prone to injuries.
“How Shami and Bumrah endure the long IPL will be important. Shami is under constant watch. If the selectors get both of them together for two-three Tests, it will be the ideal situation,” sources told The Times of India.
