Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Jasprit Bumrah is a giant of a player in the international arena. He has dismantled top-quality batting line-ups for fun and stamped his authority on the cricket field. The ace pacer has featured in 60 T20Is and bagged 70 wickets at an economy of 6.62, which is phenomenal, considering he bowls a lot at the fag end of the innings.
Bumrah has also made the Indian Premier League (IPL) his happy hunting ground. He has been a strike force with the ball for Mumbai Indians and bagged 145 wickets in 120 matches at an economy of 7.39. However, the 29-year-old is unlikely to feature in the upcoming season due to a recurring back injury.
Bumrah has been sidelined from competitive cricket due to a back injury since September 2022. However, he was initially expected to recover from the same by the start of the IPL 2023. But it does not appear to be the case as he is reported to miss the entire season of the cash-rich league and is doubtful for even the probable 2021-23 World Test Championship final in June.
Here are five players who can replace Jasprit Bumrah in the MI squad
5. Mohit Avasthi
Mohit Avasthi. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Mohit Avasthi has set the domestic arena on fire from the time he made his debut in 2021. The 30-year-old has featured in 13 first-class games and bagged 37 wickets at an average of 27.59. In the List-A format, he has picked up 17 scalps in 12 games at an economy of 5.50.
Avasthi was quite magnificent in the 2022 season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He featured in seven games for Mumbai and bagged 10 wickets at an economy of 7.88. The right-arm pacer was also impressive in the recently culminated edition of the Ranji Trophy, picking up 21 scalps in seven outings.
Avasthi has been in a rich vein of form and Mumbai could rope him into their side for the upcoming season. Moreover, his addition will also provide a local flare to the team and therefore, the team management might lean towards signing the right-arm pacer.
4. Shashank Singh
Shashank Singh. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Shashank Singh is one of the dependable all-rounders in the Indian domestic circuit. He has featured 23-List A matches and scored 536 runs at a strike rate of 99.25. On the bowling front, the 31-year-old has bagged 22 wickets in those outings at an economy of 5.52.
Shashank has also shown his all-round might in the shortest format. He has smashed 536 runs in 48 matches at a strike rate of 140.68 and picked up ten wickets at an economy of 8.38. The Chhattisgarh player showed glimpses of brilliance with the bat in IPL 2022 and scored 69 runs in 10 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad at a strike rate of 146.81.
With his ability to contribute in both departments, Shashank is an asset to any side. Therefore, Mumbai Indians, who do not have many multi-faceted cricketers in their ranks, could look to acquire the services of the batting all-rounder for the coming edition of the cash-rich league.
3. Basil Thampi
Basil Thampi. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Basil Thampi has been a consistent performer in the Indian domestic circles. He has featured in 45 first-class matches and picked up 102 wickets at an average of 30.82. When it comes to the List-A format, the 29-year-old has taken 41 scalps in 31 games at an economy of 5.36.
Mumbai Indians liked what they saw in Thampi and signed him at the 2022 mega auction. However, he was not able to set the marquee tournament on fire with his performances. Though the ace pacer took five wickets in as many games, he leaked runs at an economy of 9.50. Following his middling season, MI decided against retaining the right-arm seamer.
However, if Bumrah is out of the 16th IPL edition due to injury, the Mumbai management could look to reinvest in Thampi. The Kerela pacer has the ability to bowl at any phase of the game, which makes him a valuable addition to the side. Therefore, one might witness Basil donning a MI jersey in the forthcoming season.
2. Dhawal Kulkarni
Dhawal Kulkarni. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Dhawal Kulkarni has been a proven performer in the Indian domestic circuit. He has featured in 92 first-class games and bagged 274 wickets at an average of 27.24. When it comes to the List-A format, the 34-year-old has picked up 223 scalps in 129 matches at an economy of 4.66.
Kulkarni was associated with Mumbai Indians from the 2008 to 2013 season and then again was part of the Rohit Sharma-led side from the 2020 to 2021 season. During his stints with MI, the ace pacer has displayed his class on multiple occasions. The ace pacer has featured in 35 matches for the five-time IPL champions and taken 36 wickets at an economy of 8.09.
Given Kulkarni has fared well for the Mumbai side in the past, the team management could be inclined towards drafting him into the side for the coming IPL season. Therefore, a Kulkarni-Mumbai Indians reunion appears to be on the cards.
1. Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sandeep Sharma has been a bankable name in the domestic circuit. He has featured in 52 first-class matches and picked up 183 wickets at an average of 27.19. Talking about the List-A format, the ace pacer has bagged 98 scalps in 61 games at an average of 25.79.
Sandeep has also lit the lucrative T20 tournament with his bowling displays time and time again. He has troubled batters with his swing and wreaked havoc with the ball. Overall, the 29-year-old has featured in 104 IPL games and bagged 114 wickets at an economy of 7.77.
Sandeep is a tone-setter with the new ball and his inclusion will bolster Mumbai’s bowling line-up. Therefore, Mumbai Indians might ponder over adding him to their arsenal for the 2023 season of the cash-rich league.