Last Updated on March 14, 2025 by Sandeep
“Another Setback Could End His Career” – Experts Warn as Bumrah Faces Lengthy Recovery
New Delhi, March 14: Mumbai Indians (MI) will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign without Jasprit Bumrah, as the star pacer continues his recovery from a stress-related back injury sustained earlier this year. While he remains under rehabilitation at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, his return is uncertain, and he could miss a significant portion of the tournament’s early matches.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Bumrah is expected to rejoin MI by early April, provided he clears the BCCI’s medical assessments. However, his absence in MI’s first three matches could impact the team’s bowling attack.
📌 Timeline of Bumrah’s Injury & Recovery
🔹 The Indian fast bowler suffered a back injury on January 4 during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney.
🔹 He was ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which India won earlier this month.
🔹 This is his first recurrence of a back injury since undergoing surgery in March 2023, raising concerns about his long-term fitness.
🔹 Initially named in India’s Champions Trophy squad, fresh scans in February showed persistent discomfort, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament.
🔹 Bumrah has been advised to offload for five weeks and undergo an extensive rehab program before resuming competitive cricket.
🚨 How Many IPL Matches Will Bumrah Miss?
With no confirmed return date, it remains uncertain how many matches the MI pacer will sit out. MI’s schedule for March and early April includes:
📅 March 23 – vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) (Chennai)
📅 March 29 – vs Gujarat Titans (GT) (Ahmedabad)
📅 March 31 – vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) (Mumbai)
📅 April 4 – vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) (Lucknow)
📅 April 7 – vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) (Mumbai)
If he returns as per schedule, Bumrah might be available from MI’s April fixtures.
⚠️ Shane Bond’s Warning: Another Injury Could End Bumrah’s Career
Former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond, who previously worked as MI’s bowling coach, has expressed serious concerns about Bumrah’s long-term fitness.
🔹 “Back injuries are career-threatening, especially for a bowler like Bumrah with a unique action,” Bond said.
🔹 He warned against rushing Bumrah back into competitive cricket, highlighting the risks of transitioning too quickly from T20s to Test cricket.
🔹 India is scheduled to tour England for a five-Test series in June 2025, just a month after IPL concludes on May 25.
🔹 The BCCI is carefully managing Bumrah’s workload to ensure he remains fit for India’s Test assignments.
🏏 MI’s Bowling Plans Without Bumrah
With Bumrah sidelined, MI will rely on:
✅ Jofra Archer – England’s premier pacer, if fit, will lead the attack.
✅ Gerald Coetzee – South Africa’s emerging fast bowler adds depth.
✅ Akash Madhwal & Arjun Tendulkar – Young Indian pacers may get more opportunities.
MI’s bowling attack will need to step up in Bumrah’s absence, especially against top-order power-hitters.
💬 What’s Next for Bumrah?
🔹 Final clearance from BCCI’s medical team in April.
🔹 Careful reintegration into IPL 2025 before India’s England tour.
🔹 Strategic workload management to avoid another career-threatening injury.
For Mumbai Indians and Team India, Bumrah’s fitness remains a top priority as he continues his road to recovery.
