Predicted MI Playing XI: Headache for Hardik Pandya to find replacement for “unfit” Jasprit Bumrah

IPL 2025: For the initial few matches, MI's main bowler Jasprit Bumrah won't be available, while Hardik Pandya won't play the first match.

This year, Mumbai Indians face a few challenges and the foremost will be, Jasprit Bumrah’s injury. The best pacer in the world has been out of action for a few months now, missed the Champions Trophy, and is likely to miss a few IPL 2025 matches too. On top of that, captain Hardik Pandya will sit out of the first match, due to a likely one-match ban on him.

Truth be told, there can never be any replacement for Bumrah. But then it is worth exploring, as to how would the team look like when he is there, and isn’t around as well. InsideSport takes a look at both the possibilities.

No Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton Makes Cut

Unfortunate for the Englishman Jacks, but he doesn’t find a spot in the MI playing XI, and instead South African keeper-batter Ryan Rickelton makes it. The 28-year-old was in sublime for in SA20, where he scored 336 runs in 8 matches, at an average of 48, and a strike-rate of 178. He straightaway moves to the opening slot with Rohit Sharma.

Tilak Varma at No. 4, No Hardik Pandya for Opening Match

India batter Tilak Varma, who has been excellent in the last one year, won’t be able to come in at his regular No. 3 spot, in the presence of Suryakumar Yadav. On the other hand, all-rounder Hardik Panyda would be absent from the first match, and someone like a Raj Angad Bawa could be picked. There is also the option of Naman Dhir.

Trent Boult & Deepak Chahar Certainties

Even when Bumrah is there, two pacers apart from him will be there in the XI — Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult. In his absence though, they would have to do with someone like a Corbin Bosch, whose availability is still not final. In short, at some point, their pace department will suffer, given the circumstances.

MI Predicted XI for 1st Match

Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Raj Angad Bawa, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Arjun Tendulkar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Trent Boult.

MI Predicted XI When Jasprit Bumrah is Fit

Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Raj Angad Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult.

Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult (Rs. 12.50 crore), Naman Dhir (Rs. 5.25 crore), Robin Minz (Rs. 65 lakh), Karn Sharma (Rs. 50 lakh), Ryan Rickelton (Rs. 1 crore), Deepak Chahar (Rs. 9.25 crore), Allah Ghazanfar (Rs. 4.80 crore), Will Jacks (Rs. 5.25 crore), Ashwani Kumar (Rs. 30 lakh), Mitchell Santner (Rs. 2 crore), Reece Topley (Rs. 75 lakh), Krishnan Shrijith (Rs. 30 lakh), Raj Angad Bawa (Rs. 30 lakh), Satyanarayana Raju (Rs. 30 lakh), Bevon Jacobs (Rs. 30 lakh), Arjun Tendulkar (Rs. 30 lakh), Lizaad Williams (Rs. 75 lakh), Vignesh Puthur (Rs. 30 lakh).