Jasprit Bumrah's absence from IPL 2025 has already intrigued cricket fans who are eagerly waiting to see him back in the Mumbai Indians' team, bowling with fire. However, his return to the MI playing XI does not seem likely anytime soon.

As per an ESPNcricinfo report, the star pacer will miss Friday's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 game against Lucknow Super Giants. He is also doubtful for MI's next game at home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 7.

Bumrah is currently recovering from a lower back stress injury and is responding well to rehab, increasing his chances of playing for MI this season. The 31-year-old has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He is close to taking the final round of fitness tests. Only after the BCCI medical team approves his fitness test will he be able to return to the MI squad and play the remainder of the IPL matches.

Bumrah, on his part, is being very cautious and will not want to return to the field unless he is fully fit, with India set to tour England for a five-match Test series starting on June 28.

MI have so far played three matches in IPL 2025, winning one and losing two. With Bumrah unavailable, the franchise handed debuts to Satyanarayana Raju, Vignesh Puthur, and Ashwani Kumar. Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar are currently leading the pace attack.

Before the start of the IPL, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene talked about the challenge his team is facing without Bumrah. At that time, it was believed that Bumrah would join the MI squad by April, but that has now been delayed.

Bumrah, who made his IPL debut for MI in 2013, has taken 165 wickets in 133 matches. The only IPL season he missed since his debut was in 2023 when he suffered a back injury.

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