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India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar shared his thoughts on Mumbai Indians’ star pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s return to action in the IPL 2025.
In the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Monday, Gavaskar highlighted that while Bumrah bowled at his usual pace of over 140 kmph, his confidence would build with more games, allowing him to hit the 150 kmph mark soon.
Speaking on JioHotstar, Gavaskar said, “The first and foremost thing was seeing him come in steaming and bowling at his usual pace – over 140 kmph. I believe with a few more games, he’ll likely hit 150 kmph as he gains more confidence in his back and feels secure enough to bowl at full tilt.”
Gavaskar Bumrah’s Performance Against RCB
Bumrah, who returned after recovering from a lower back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January, recorded figures of 0-29 in his four overs against RCB.
Gavaskar praised Bumrah’s performance, stating, “In T20s, where you’re not bowling long spells, it’s easier for bowlers to stay sharp and bowl at full speed. The way Bumrah bowled, if not for him, RCB might have scored 240-250.”
Gavaskar On Rohit Sharma’s Form
Gavaskar also discussed former MI skipper Rohit Sharma’s return after missing the previous match against Lucknow Super Giants due to a knee injury.
He suggested that a steady 30-40 runs would help Rohit regain his confidence, noting that his start to the season has been his worst since 2020.
“Over the next couple of games, they’ll be hoping for a solid knock. Even if he doesn’t get a big score immediately, if he can bat through the power-play into the 8th or 9th over and score a steady 30–40, that will help build confidence. But when he gets out in the powerplay, it hurts—whether for Mumbai Indians, India, or any team he’s playing for,” Gavaskar added.
He emphasized the importance of shot selection, stating, “He has so much to contribute. His shot selection needs a bit of tempering. You have to be aggressive in the first six overs, but choosing the right risks is key. If he finds that balance, he’ll be back to scoring big runs again.”
Mumbai Indians suffered their fourth defeat of the season in a high-scoring thriller against RCB at Wankhede Stadium.
Despite a late surge, MI fell short by 12 runs.
Boucher Evaluates MI’s Performance
Former MI coach Mark Boucher assessed MI’s performance, saying, “They got off to a bit of a sluggish start. It was amazing to see Suryakumar batting with that kind of strike rate, trying to get it up. But then Tilak and Hardik got together, and Hardik had to go from ball one. Tilak Verma supported him really well, especially after what happened in the previous game.”
Boucher praised Hardik Pandya’s brilliant performance in the match, stating, “Hardik came in completely fresh and smashed Hazlewood all over the park. The shots he produced in that over were exceptional and helped MI claw back with Tilak’s help.”
Also Read: IPL 2025: GT Pacer Ishant Sharma Fined And Penalised For Code Of Conduct Breach
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