Jasprit Bumrah made his highly-anticipated return to competitive cricket in Mumbai’s recent 12-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. This match marked the pace bowler’s first outing after a three-month hiatus due to a back injury sustained during India’s tour of Australia earlier this year. Bumrah had no wickets, and he went for 29 runs in his four overs. The coaching staff of the Mumbai Indians don’t give up hope on his recovery and future performances.
Bumrah’s injury woes began in early January during India’s last Test in Sydney. He became plagued by debilitating back spasms, which led him to miss a string of matches, including a five-match Twenty20 international series versus England and the 50-overs Champions Trophy in his home conditions. Recognizing the importance of his presence on the field, Mumbai Indians decided to ease Bumrah back into action gradually, focusing on giving him the necessary game time to regain his form.
Coach’s Perspective on Bumrah’s Comeback
Mumbai Indians’ head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, has emphasized the team’s strategy regarding Bumrah’s return. He pointed out that the franchise didn’t want to put Bumrah in high-pressure situations right away.
“Boom’s coming back from a three-month layoff as well. So we just wanted to ease him into the competition. He bowled well and he controlled things really well.” – Mahela Jayawardene
Mumbai has taken a calculated gamble with Bumrah though. They decided to allow him to play for the team first before giving him the new ball duties right off the bat. Jayawardene alluded to their advantage of having two not very orthodox swing bowlers. He made a particularly strong case for ensuring that you give them the opportunity to shine from the very beginning.
Future Outlook for Bumrah
At 31 years of age Bumrah is still the linchpin for the Mumbai Indians. His veteran presence and versatility will be key to the team’s deep postseason hopes this year. Jayawardene continues to be convinced that with more match experience under his belt, Bumrah will get back to his best.
“The more he starts playing… he’ll get into it,” said Jayawardene, reinforcing the belief that consistent participation will enhance Bumrah’s performance.
Although there was plenty of difficulty during Jaywardene’s return to work, there is no doubt that Bumrah’s ability has not been altered. He highlighted some valuable lessons as Bumrah returned to T20 cricket after injury.
“The last time he was playing a test match, all of a sudden he’s playing a T20. So we need to understand that,” said Jayawardene.
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