Jasprit Bumrah marked his return to competitive cricket with a spirited performance, showcasing both pace and precision in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) narrow 12-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025. The Indian speedster, who hadn’t played a match since the New Year’s Test in Australia, returned figures of 0 for 29 in four overs, earning praise from head coach Mahela Jayawardene. “He’s disappointed not to get the win, but other than that, he looks fine,” Jayawardene said after the game. “I think the pace was up, and the execution was good.” For more on MI’s struggles,
Bumrah joined the MI squad on Saturday after receiving clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (formerly the National Cricket Academy). Following a training session on Sunday—his first time bowling to batters in three months—he made an immediate impact in his comeback match at the Wankhede Stadium. His ability to adapt quickly was evident, especially considering he had bowled just one over in the powerplay, one in the middle overs, and two at the death, conceding only two boundaries—both sixes. As Jayawardene noted, “The skills were brilliant, but there are areas for us to improve as he gets more game time.”
Easing Back into Action
MI opted to hold Bumrah back during the powerplay, preferring to utilize swing bowlers Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar with the new ball. Bumrah was introduced in the fourth over as RCB raced to 33 for 1. “We have two swing bowlers, so we wanted to give them that opportunity first up,” Jayawardene explained. “Boom [Bumrah] is coming back from a three-month layoff, so we just wanted to ease him into the competition.” According to Jayawardene, this strategy was crucial given the gap in Bumrah’s appearances;
Despite limited overs, Bumrah delivered a controlled spell, finishing as the most economical bowler on either side. His ability to restrict RCB in the death overs, giving away just 14 runs in two overs, highlighted his value to the team. This performance came on the heels of a rigorous fitness regime overseen by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Jayawardene confirmed that Bumrah had undergone multiple practice sessions before rejoining the squad. “The experience and skill you saw today were pretty good,” he said, adding that Bumrah “bowled to some quality players and probably had two or three bad balls in that spell.
Looking Ahead
Although MI couldn’t secure a victory, Bumrah’s return signals hope for a turnaround. With four losses in five games, the defending champions will look to build momentum and integrate their key players effectively. As Jayawardene emphasized, having Bumrah back boosts not only the bowling attack but also the team’s confidence moving forward. “It just gives us more options,” he said. “Once we put all these pieces together, we’ll be able to execute a good game plan consistently.”
Before the match, Bumrah was seen meticulously marking his run-up and practicing deliveries at both ends of the Wankhede pitch. Despite being substituted out during MI’s chase—with Rohit Sharma coming in as the Impact Player—Bumrah looked sharp and focused throughout his spell. His seamless integration into the squad shows why he remains such a vital cog in MI’s campaign, even after a lengthy absence.
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