Mumbai bowler Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss his side’s next two games owing to a shoulder injury he sustained during the season-opener on Sunday while fielding.
The Mumbai franchise face Bengaluru on Thursday at the latter’s home turf and while the squad has already travelled, the pacer has stayed back in Mumbai to work on his fitness.
"Bumrah is in Mumbai along with team physio Nitin Patel continuing with the assessment. His recovery is on track and fortunately no sign on stress," an MI spokesperson was quoted by The Hindu on Monday evening.
With World Cup looming large it is highly unexpected that Mumbai or even BCCI would take any risk over Bumrah’s fitness given his importance to the team. Considered as one of the finest death-over specialists, Bumrah remains a key member for both Mumbai and India, hence he is expected to miss his side’s trip to Bengaluru and Mohali (on Sunday).
The Hindu quotes, BCCI had a pre-tournament meeting with all the teams and exerted that the key members should not be overburdened and in case of back-to-back away games, they should be rested.
The good news for the defending champions though is the possible return of Lasith Malinga, who is expected to join the team in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The pacer's involvement for at least the first three weeks of the tournament was earlier thrown into doubt, but BCCI's request to Sri Lanka Cricket has made the latter soften their stance.
Following Mumbai's next two games this week, Malinga will return to Sri Lanka to feature in the Super Provincial One-Day Tournament and will re-join the team after April 10.
