Mumbai Indians Face IPL 2025 Challenge Without Bumrah, While Clarke Backs Sunrisers for the Title
Mumbai – As Mumbai Indians (MI) gear up for IPL 2025, they face a major setback with Jasprit Bumrah sidelined due to a back injury. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has raised concerns about how MI will cope in Bumrah’s absence, warning that his delayed return could impact the team’s title hopes.
Bumrah has been out of action since India’s final Test against Australia in January, where he couldn’t bowl in the second innings due to his injury. Currently recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, he is expected to miss the initial games of IPL 2025. MI’s head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, acknowledged that the pacer needs time to regain full fitness, admitting that his absence leaves a significant gap in the squad as they chase a record sixth IPL title.
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke shared his concerns about Bumrah’s return to form. “I’m just a little worried. He hasn’t played cricket for a while, and missing the start of the tournament means he won’t be at his best straight away. Of course, he’s a freak and can take five wickets on his day, but it will take time for him to get back to full speed. If there’s no Bumrah, Mumbai will find it extremely tough,” Clarke said.
Meanwhile, when asked to predict a potential IPL 2025 winner, Clarke backed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), citing their strong batting lineup. However, he pointed out that their bowling could be a deciding factor in their title run.
“If I had to pick a favorite right now, I’d go with Pat Cummins and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Their batting is strong enough to win, no doubt. Patty, as captain, has learned a lot, and his leadership will improve this year. But their biggest challenge is ensuring their quick bowlers stay fit, especially in the death overs,” Clarke added.
SRH’s bowling attack will be tested on the flat Uppal pitch, but with Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami leading the pace attack, they have experience on their side. The team will also rely on Harshal Patel for the death overs, though his economy rate remains a concern. Adam Zampa brings wrist spin options, but conditions might not always favor him, making Rahul Chahar and Abhishek Sharma’s slow bowling crucial.
As IPL 2025 approaches, MI will hope Bumrah returns to his best, while SRH will aim to strike a balance in their bowling attack to mount a serious title challenge.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
