Mumbai Indians’ Jasprit Bumrah (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil) Mumbai: Ahead of their first match of IPL-2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night, Mumbai Indians had a huge reason to cheer but also a reason to be mildly apprehensive.At the pre-match press conference at Wankhede, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that world cricket premier Jasprit Bumrah has joined their camp after returning from the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.
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IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan steals the show at the captains’ meet “Jassi is back with the team; he is available to play,” said the former Sri Lankan captain. However, Mahela revealed that New Zealand left-arm spinner and T20 captain Mitchell Santner and England all-rounder Will Jacks sought an “extended break” from MI, which they were granted.“With the guys that are joining, obviously Mitch and Jacksey (Will Jacks) asked for a little bit more time for personal reasons and we were quite happy to go along with that. But they will be joining the team soon,” the head coach informed. Bumrah, Jacks and Santner were notable absentees from MI’s mandatory practice session held two days before their first match at the Wankhede Stadium. After the T20 World Cup final loss against India on 8 March, Santner captained New Zealand in the first three T20Is against South Africa at home and was rested for the last two. Meanwhile, Jacks was part of the England team that lost to India in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium and flew out of India on a chartered flight shortly afterwards. It is not yet confirmed whether Santner or Jacks has arrived in India. Both players are crucial overseas options for MI.Bumrah has been at the COE for the last five days, but those watching the development insisted it was not due to any injury but a routine visit aimed at monitoring his workload. With 14 wickets in eight matches at 12.42 and an economy rate of 6.21, a best haul of four for 15 in the final against New Zealand and some ultra-essential spells at the death during the business end of the 2026 World Cup in 2026, Bumrah has distinguished his class in the tournament. MI will want the ‘King of Fast Bowlers’ to hit his stride soon in IPL-2026.Let’s hope MI’s shocking first game record continues: WatsonMeanwhile, perennial slow starters MI will be itching to end their streak of losing the first IPL match every year when they take on KKR in the IPL season opener, while new KKR assistant coach Shane Watson hoped to capitalize on MI’s usual tendency to stumble at the start of the season.“Well, hopefully the shocking record that MI have in the first match will continue. Obviously, we play here at the Wankhede Stadium… it’s a fortress. Mumbai Indians are very difficult to beat here. I’ve experienced it from a game point of view and from a coach’s point of view, so you know we’ll definitely have to be at our best against the poor matches against MI. The tournament starts,” Watson said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday.Refreshed after enjoying an “extended break”, as Mahela put it, World T20 2026 heroes from MI Bumrah, India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, star all-rounder and MI captain Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma will be available to go.MI will want Suryakumar – the 35-year-old batsman who managed to score just 242 runs at 30.25 in nine matches at 136.72 and was out for a duck in the final – to rediscover his touch and repeat the consistency he showed in IPL-2025 when he scored 717 runs in 1657.16 matches at a strike rate 136.16 matches. including five fifties.The five-time champions will also be pleased to see how their former captain and modern-day great Rohit Sharma is adjusting to the championship. Aiming to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup in October-November next year, the 38-year-old will be fully aware of how closely his performances will be watched during IPL-2026. In fact, with Rohit improving his fitness drastically last year, it doesn’t look like MI will use the veteran batsman as an ‘Impact Player’ who will just bat and rest in the dugout for the rest of the match.When asked if Rohit’s lack of T20 game time – he hasn’t played a T20 match in 10 months, since he made his debut in the second qualifier against Punjab Kings on June 1 last year – was a problem, Mahela praised the veteran batter. “There’s been a transformation in Rohit. I’ve seen the commitment from him. He’s been practicing his skills for a long time. That’s what he’s in control of, what he can do, and I’m pretty happy with what I’ve seen in practice games and at the nets. Hand speed, technique, everything. And then on top of that, he’s also got his years of experience playing in the top 18.” it’s a game of cricket, we have to understand it and then play with it,” praised the MI head coach.It remains to be seen which of the two South African left-handers will open for Rohit – seasoned batsman Quinton de Kock or Ryan Rickelton.
