Jasprit Bumrah is back on the cricket field, but he’s not exactly celebrating. The star fast bowler made his big return for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2025 clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Monday. After sitting out for three months with a back injury, Bumrah stepped onto the Wankhede Stadium pitch, ready to fire. But things didn’t go as planned. MI lost by a tight 12 runs, and Bumrah walked away wicketless after leaking 29 runs in his four overs. Ouch.
RCB set a massive target of 222, and Mumbai just couldn’t keep up. It’s the first time in a decade that RCB has beaten MI at Wankhede—a bitter pill for the home team.
Why is Bumrah disappointed after his comeback?
So, why’s Bumrah feeling down? Simple: he wanted to be the hero. The 31-year-old speedster told his coach he’s gutted about not delivering a win for MI on his big return. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene spilled the beans in the post-match presser, saying, “I chatted with him after the game. He’s in good shape, bowling fast, but he’s disappointed. He really wanted to get us over the line.” Bumrah’s last game was back in January during India’s Australia tour, where he picked up that pesky injury. It sidelined him for the Champions Trophy 2025 too. Now, he’s back in the IPL grind, but his return match didn’t exactly scream “triumph.”
Defended this decision of Hardik
What about MI captain Hardik Pandya’s call to hold Bumrah back until the fourth over? Fans were scratching their heads, but Jayawardene’s got Hardik’s back. “We’ve got swing bowlers who need a shot early on,” he explained. “Bumrah’s been out for three months—we didn’t want to throw him in too soon. Ease him into the heat of T20 cricket, you know?” The coach reckons it was a smart move to give Bumrah a smoother landing after his long break.
‘The more matches Bumrah plays, the better he’ll get’
Jayawardene’s keeping the faith in his star pacer. “His speed’s there, his skills are sharp. He’s just shaking off the rust,” he said. “He’s coming off Test cricket into T20. Give him time—he’ll be deadly soon.” The coach thinks the more games Bumrah plays, the sharper he’ll get. For now, though, MI’s season isn’t looking pretty. Four losses in five games have dumped them at eighth on the points table. Bumrah’s return was supposed to spark a turnaround, but RCB had other plans. Mumbai fans are hoping their pace ace finds his groove fast—because this team needs a win, stat.
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