Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes the return of Jasprit Bumrah will add strength to Mumbai Indians for their fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in ongoing IPL 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday.
Bumrah had suffered a back injury in the New Year’s Test against Australia at Sydney and since then he was recuperating at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Chopra noted that Bumrah has a terrific record while playing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and also their veteran batter, Virat Kohli as he has dismissed him on five occasions.
“Jasprit Bumrah is back. Our guy has returned. He is ready for the game and will play as well. His record against Bengaluru is amazing. He also made his debut against this team. He has taken 29 wickets in 19 innings against this team. He has dismissed Kohli five times. His first wicket was also Kohli, back in 2013,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator highlighted that MI’s fast bowling battery would improve with the arrival of Bumrah.
“If Bumrah is available, let’s just picture and see how Mumbai’s bowling attack would look – Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult. The Deepak hasn’t been lit thus far. He has picked up wickets for sure but hasn’t been his own yet. The swing has also reduced, but it might all change tonight,” he observed.
The former KKR player noted that Hardik Pandya, Mitchell Santner could provide the support whereas either Vignesh Puthur or Ashwani Kumar could be used as sixth bowling options.
“Can you expect a better bowling attack? After that, Mitchell Santner and Hardik Pandya, who took five wickets in the last match, will come, and then if you have Vignesh Puthur and Ashwani Kumar as options, it looks like a beautiful bowling attack. Bumrah being there means the match becoming a 16-over affair,” Chopra elaborated.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma missed the previous match against LSG due to injury but he was seen batting in the nets ahead of the clash against RCB.
“From Mumbai’s perspective, which is the other thing that needs to be focussed on? Batting order – will Rohit (Sharma) be available and play? Things have become slightly topsy-turvy. Naman Dhir went up the order. Will Jacks hasn’t fired yet. Ryan Rickelton has played one good knock,” he said.
Chopra noted that MI’s batting line-up hasn’t lived up to the expectations so far in four matches.
“Tilak Varma hasn’t gotten going at all, to the extent that you retired him out. Hardik Pandya has batted decently. He hasn’t shone fully, but Suryakumar Yadav’s Surya bhau avatar is being seen. The batting has depth, pedigree, and explosive ability, but they have not realized their potential properly,” Chopra observed.
MI has managed a solitary win in four games thus far.
