How will Mumbai Indians deal without Jasprit Bumrah in the beginning of IPL 2025?

A Season of Redemption for Mumbai Indians

Following a poor 2024 campaign, in which Mumbai Indians (MI) ended up at the bottom of the table with only four victories in 14 matches, the five-time winners are looking to make a comeback in IPL 2025 in style. Led by Hardik Pandya, the team was under immense pressure last season, with internal squabbles and fan criticism compounding their problems. But with the new season upon us, it appears that MI have answered some of these queries and have developed a team consisting of a balance of seasoned internationals and talented young blood.

One of the biggest challenges that they have to contend with in the beginning of IPL 2025 is the unavailability of their star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. The back injury, which has been keeping him on the sidelines, will keep him out of the game for the first part of the tournament. His unavailability raises a key question—how will MI compensate for the loss of their marquee bowler?

Squad Strength and Key Retentions

Despite their poor performance in 2024, MI retained most of their core Indian players. Rohit Sharma, who led India to ICC titles in both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy last year, remains an essential figure in the team. Suryakumar Yadav has been handed the captaincy of India’s T20I squad, further solidifying MI’s reliance on him. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya has won back fan support after playing a crucial role in India’s recent triumphs.

From outside players, MI has made some interesting signings. Trent Boult, who once was a critical part of their team, has been reacquired, while Deepak Chahar has been acquired to bolster the pace attack. Still, their overseas contingent is rather inexperienced in the IPL. New Zealand's Bevon Jacobs, South Africa's Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch are all debutants in the league, and their performances would be keenly observed. In the meantime, Mitchell Santner, who also had a rich vein of form in guiding New Zealand to the Champions Trophy final, provides the depth to the team.

In Bumrah's absence for the initial matches, MI will be forced to redefine their bowling combinations, especially towards the death overs. Although Boult and Chahar are capable of performing well during the powerplay, it is challenging to find an effective bowler for the latter overs.

Reece Topley, who has had a few IPL games under his belt in earlier seasons, might be an option to consider. The other option is Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who had a great SA20 season, with 14 wickets at an economy of 6.77. MI may also consider Corbin Bosch, although he has no experience in the IPL. The team will have to try out these options till Bumrah comes back.

One of MI’s most exciting new signings is Bevon Jacobs. The 22-year-old New Zealand batter made a name for himself in the Super Smash, where he had a staggering strike rate of 188.73 for Canterbury. Though his IPL experience is limited, his aggressive batting style could be an asset in MI’s lineup.

Another player in the limelight is Deepak Chahar. In the previous season, he featured in a mere eight games for CSK owing to injury and was far from his best, leaking runs at an economy of 8.59. With the fast-bowling conditions at Wankhede, MI will expect him to get back into form and deliver important wickets in the powerplay.

Predicted Best XII for IPL 2025

Rohit Sharma

Ryan Rickelton (wk) *

Tilak Varma

Suryakumar Yadav

Hardik Pandya (capt)

Robin Minz

Naman Dhir

Deepak Chahar

Corbin Bosch/Mujeeb Ur Rahman *

Mitchell Santner *

Karn Sharma

Trent Boult *

MI’s Playoff Hopes: Can They Turn the Tide?

Despite their setbacks, MI remains one of the most formidable teams in IPL history. However, their recent track record raises concerns. In the last four seasons, they have made the playoffs only once, in 2023, and finished at the bottom in both 2022 and 2024.

Suryakumar Yadav's current T20 record is another point of concern. His performances in the series against England this year were poor with scores of 2, 0, 14, 12, and 0. In domestic cricket, his strike rate was mere 132 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which questions his consistency.

On the flip side, Boult enters the IPL in fine form. He was Player of the Final for MI Cape Town in the SA20 and concluded the league with 11 wickets at an economy of 6.94. If he transfers this form to the IPL, MI will possess a trusty bowling spearhead during Bumrah's absence.

Managing Workloads and Injury Concerns

Bumrah’s recovery and workload management will be a critical factor in MI’s campaign. The BCCI and MI will need to carefully handle his fitness ahead of India’s five-Test tour of England in June-July. Apart from him, the team has already made injury-related replacements, with Bosch coming in for Lizaad Williams and Mujeeb Ur Rahman replacing AM Ghazanfar.

Conclusion

Mumbai Indians have a challenging beginning in IPL 2025 without their star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. But with a mix of veterans, promising youngsters, and strategic signings, they have the means to get past this loss. The challenge will be getting the right bowling attack, keeping their batting order firing on all cylinders, and being smart about managing injuries.

As MI supporters are eager to witness their team bounce back, the journey is tough. Provided that Hardik Pandya and his unit manage to successfully overcome the initial barriers, they have a high possibility of going deep in the tournament. But for the moment, the biggest question still hangs—can MI survive and succeed in the absence of their bowling lynchpin?