MI head coach confirms: 'Bumrah is back with the squad' and ready for first game vs KKR

Mumbai: Ahead of their first match in IPL-2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night, the Mumbai Indians had a huge reason to cheer, but also some cause for slight concern. At the pre-match press conference at Wankhede, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that world cricket's premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah had joined their camp after returning from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. "Jassi is back with the squad; he is available to play," the former Sri Lankan captain said.

However, Mahela revealed that New Zealand left-arm spinner and T20 captain Mitchell Santner and English allrounder Will Jacks had sought an "extended break" from MI, which they were granted. "With the guys who are joining, obviously Mitch and Jacksey (Will Jacks) asked for a slightly extended time for personal reasons, and we were quite happy to go with that. But they'll join the team pretty soon," the head coach informed.

Bumrah, Jacks, and Santner were the notable absentees from MI's mandatory training session held two days before their first match at the Wankhede Stadium. After the T20 World Cup final loss against India on March 8, Santner captained New Zealand for the first three T20Is against South Africa at home and was given a break for the last two. Jacks, meanwhile, was part of the England squad that lost to India in the semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium and had departed India on a chartered flight shortly after.

It is yet to be confirmed whether either Santner or Jacks has arrived in India. Both players are crucial overseas options for MI. Bumrah was at the CoE for the past five days, but those tracking developments insisted that it wasn't due to any injury, but a routine visit aimed at monitoring his workload.