Jasprit Bumrah to miss IPL 2025 matches due to injury

Mumbai Indians’ premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will miss the initial matches of IPL 2025 due to a stress-related back injury. The pacer sustained the injury during the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney on January 4 and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. This injury had also ruled him out of India’s Champions Trophy campaign earlier this month.

Bumrah, who was named Player of the Series in Australia with 32 wickets, was included in India’s provisional Champions Trophy squad but was later withdrawn due to persistent discomfort. He underwent fresh scans in February, following which medical experts recommended an extended recovery period. This marks the first major recurrence of his back issues since he underwent surgery in March 2023.

Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 23 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chennai, followed by an away match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 29. Their first home fixture at Wankhede Stadium will be against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 31. They will then face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 4 before hosting Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 7. There is no confirmed timeline for Bumrah’s return, but he is expected to join the squad by early April, subject to medical clearance.

With Bumrah sidelined, MI’s fast-bowling unit includes Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, Arjun Tendulkar, Corbin Bosch, Satyanarayana Raju, and Ashwani Kumar. Captain Hardik Pandya and Raj Angad Bawa add pace options as all-rounders. The team management will closely monitor Bumrah’s recovery, considering his workload and past injury history.

Former MI bowling coach Shane Bond has expressed concern over Bumrah’s recurring back issues, especially given his previous surgery. Bond, who suffered similar injuries during his playing career, stated that such setbacks need to be managed carefully to prevent long-term damage. He also pointed out the challenges of transitioning between T20 and longer formats, as India is set to tour England for a five-Test series in June.

The BCCI medical team continues to assess Bumrah’s fitness, and his return will depend on clearance from specialists. MI, who have won five IPL titles, will be hoping for his availability in the latter half of the tournament as they aim for a strong campaign in IPL 2025.