Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback to IPL 2025 was a big relief for Mumbai Indians and Indian cricket fans in general. After missing over three months due to an injury sustained during the fifth Test in Australia earlier this year, Bumrah returned to action on Monday night (April 8) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium.
His bowling figure of 4 overs, 29 runs, and no wickets may not show breakthroughs, but Bumrah was the most economical bowler in a high-scoring game with 430 runs across 40 overs. He bowled the fourth, eleventh, eighteenth, and twentieth overs of RCB’s innings; he showed excellent control and calm under pressure.
Despite Virat Kohli and Jitesh Sharma hitting him for sixes, he did not concede a single boundary. That’s an impressive effort, especially in such favorable batting conditions. Bumrah’s return not only helps the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack, but also India’s speed options in upcoming tournaments.
Jayawardene on Bumrah: “Pace Was Up, Execution Was Good”
After the match, Mumbai Indians’ head coach Mahela Jayawardene praised Bumrah ‘s performance, despite MI falling 12 runs short of RCB’s massive 222-run total.
“I just spoke with him after the game, and he looks in good shape. He is disappointed [with the outcome]. He wanted to win when he came back. Apart from that, he appears to be in good health. The pace was up, and the execution was good,” Jayawardene added.
Jayawardene also confirmed that the team didn’t give Bumrah the new ball and gave the early overs to swing bowlers Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar instead.
“Boom is returning from a three-month layoff. We just wanted to ease him into the competition,” he said.
From Test Injury to IPL Comeback: Bumrah’s Journey
Bumrah suffered back spasms during the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2025, forcing him to leave the field for medical checkups. Because of this injury, he was sidelined for several months and missed the important series, including the Champions Trophy.
Jasprit Bumrah was cleared to return only days before the match by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. He joined the Mumbai Indians squad on Saturday and practised with them on Sunday. He bowled for the first time in months before jumping right into a high-pressure match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Mahela Jayawardene stated, “The last time he played was a Test match, and now he’s back in a T20. So we should keep it in mind. His abilities appeared sharp, but there are still areas in which we can develop.”
Despite not taking a wicket, Bumrah impressed everyone with his rhythm, enthusiasm, and tight bowling. He bowled two overs at the death and conceded only
14 runs, although the other MI bowlers conceded 52 runs in the final four overs.
MI’s bowling looks more stronger now that Bumrah has returned to the lineup. Jayawardene believes his comeback will provide much-needed confidence and versatility to the team.
“He hadn’t bowled to batsmen in months, until yesterday. The abilities and experience he demonstrated today were excellent,” he remarked.
As the season progresses, the Mumbai Indians will rely more on Bumrah’s expertise and abilities. With each match, he’ll just get sharper, which is great news not only for MI fans, but also for Indian cricket fans looking forward to upcoming big matches.
