Bumrah-less MI eager to break the first-game jinx

IPL 2025

Bumrah-less MI eager to break the first-game jinx

by Vijay Tagore • Last updated on

Hardik and Mahela address the pre-season press conference © Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians may have become synonymous with poor starts in the IPL campaigns. They haven't won their opening game of the season since the 2012 edition; in 2022, they required nine games to secure their first victory, and last year, they lost three matches on the bounce before registering a win. In many ways, they seem to contradict the time-honoured perception of 'well begun is half done.'

The five-time champions are undoubtedly eager to break this unlucky streak, but achieving that may prove more challenging than expected, especially as they hit the road for their first two games of the upcoming season.

They will kick off their season against fellow five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings, who are an inexhaustible force at home. The slow pitches at the Chepauk, CSK's fortress, are known to aid the home team's spinners, who are famous for weaving a web around visiting sides. Up next, Mumbai will face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, where Shubman Gill's team defeated them at the Narendra Modi Stadium last season.

Compounding their woes is the likely absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the team's spearhead, who has yet to receive clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Even more concerning is the absence of skipper Hardik Pandya, who will miss the game due to an over-rate breach last season.

Despite these setbacks, the MI management, under head coach Mahela Jayawardene and captain Pandya, is determined to break the opening hoodoo. "I was reminded a few days ago that we haven't won our first game since 2012. So both of us (pointing to Pandya), including Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), who's going to lead us, have a big challenge ahead of us to try and overcome that. And then after that, we look forward to the season." The coach was outlining their outlook for the season that starts on March 22.

"We have the core group with us who's got the experience, who knows what the culture is, how we need to play and how we need to win. And with the new group of guys, which includes some of the old faces coming back, like Trent (Boult), who was a big part in our success in 2020. So for us, it's about putting this puzzle together, making sure that we gel well as a group, understanding our strengths and have a good start. Last season threw us some challenges, but there has been a big auction and a lot of changes have happened. With that, we got a fresh canvas to start and paint our destiny."

The coach is reconciled to the fact that Bumrah will be absent. The team has no knowledge when the spearhead will be available. "Jasprit is at the moment with NCA. He just started that progress. We have to wait and see what their feedback is on him. At the moment, everything is going well but obviously, it is on a day-to-day basis, the progress. He is in good spirits and hopefully, he can join the team sooner. Obviously, not having him is a challenge.

"He is one of the best bowlers in the world and he has been a fantastic pro for us for many years. We will have to find a way, it is an opportunity for someone else also to step up and show what they are capable of. That is how I see it. It gives us a different element of trying a few different things and see what works."

While being helpless at the absence of Bumrah, Pandya is excited about Boult's return. "The plan for the bowling group is very clear. You get a lot of experience in it. Because, the Wankhede can be sometimes very unforgiving to the bowlers, the kind of track which we play in. So it was very, very important to bring in experience who have played - from Mitch (Mitchell Santner) to Trent. As you mentioned, Trent was very, very important for us. (So are) Deepak (Chahar) and all experienced individuals, including. Boom (Bumrah), myself, Mujeeb (Ur Rahaman) - all of the youngsters who have played a lot of cricket."

Both Pandya and Jayawardene have no concerns over Surya's recent lack of runs. In five T20Is, against England earlier in this year, the India T20I skipper had accumulated a mere 28 runs. "He has scored a lot of runs for so many years and I am not really worried or not concerned about his form. He has batted brilliantly, he has been a match-winner for India and the Mumbai Indians, and he brings a lot of energy in the group," Pandya said.

Jayawardene added, "We are not very concerned about Sky. He had a couple of practice games for us, and sometimes, the way he has played and how he has gone about his game, it's fantastic to watch. When he fails, we all feel, 'okay, he's human as well'. So, We just take it at that and allow him to enjoy his batting out there for us..."

© Cricbuzz

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