TV
Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to face Gujarat Titans (GT) in their second match of the IPL 2025 season on Saturday, March 29, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, MI will likely continue to be without their premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who is still recovering from a back injury.
Reports from reputed social media handles on X cited MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirming that Bumrah remains unavailable as he undergoes rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
"He's going through his programme daily, and so far, everything seems okay. But no timelines have been given for his return," Jayawardene stated.
Bumrah sustained the injury during India's fifth Test against Australia in Sydney and also missed the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
MI's Performance in the Season Opener
In their opening match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), MI suffered a four-wicket defeat. Batting first, MI posted a modest total of 155 for 9 in 20 overs.
CSK's Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad was instrumental in restricting MI, delivering impressive figures of 4 for 18. In response, the Ruturaj Gaikwak-led side chased down the target in 18.1 overs, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad scoring 53 and Rachin Ravindra remaining unbeaten on 65.
Factors Contributing to MI's Loss Against CSK
Several factors led to MI's defeat in their opening match:
Batting Collapse: Despite a strong start in the powerplay, MI experienced a batting collapse, losing wickets in quick succession and failing to build substantial partnerships.
Ineffective Bowling Strategy: The decision-making in utilizing bowling resources was questioned, particularly the underuse of pacer Jason Behrendorff, who bowled only two overs in the powerplay despite being economical.
Captaincy Decisions: Captain Hardik Pandya faced criticism for his choices, including bowling the final over himself, which resulted in conceding 20 runs to MS Dhoni.
