India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has rejoined the Mumbai Indians squad ahead of their IPL 2025 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium on April 7. After spending close to two months at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for rehabilitation, the world no.1 pacer's arrival will bolster the morale of the squad who have had a mixed start to the tournament. Upon his return at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard lifted Jasprit Bumrah and said "Welcome Mufasa" as the rest of the team cheered and clapped.
Bumrah was out with a back injury he incurred during the final Test match against Australia in Sydney in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series earlier this year. The BCCI medical team had advised him to offload for five weeks starting in early January, and hence, he missed the white-ball campaign against England at home and was not part of the Champions Trophy journey either. After having back surgery, he went to rehab at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Mumbai announced his return on Sunday in a Games of Thrones-themed video posted on Instagram, captioned: "Ready to roar." In the video, Bumrah's wife, Sanjana Ganesan, is seen telling his son Angad, “In 2013, there was a cub who entered the jungle. A jungle full of runs and sixes and boundaries. Where everyone was scared, he showed courage. Over the years, he fought many battles. He fought for survival and for pride. He won and lost, but never gave up. These battles left him with scars, but these cars did not ruin him. Once a cub, now a lion. The lion is back. He is back to be the king of the jungle again.” Mumbai Indians have played four matches so far in IPL 2025, with a 1-3 win-loss record. Since making his debut in 2013, Bumrah has been a vital cog in MI's bowling machinery, amassing 165 wickets in 133 matches.
