Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)
Mumbai: Ahead of their first match of the IPL-2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday evening, Mumbai Indians had plenty of reason to rejoice, but also reason for a little worry.In the pre-match press conference in Wankhede, MI coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that world number one cricketer Jasprit Bumrah has joined their camp after his return from the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.
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IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan steals the limelight in the captains’ encounter
“Jassi has returned to the team and is available to play,” the former Sri Lanka captain said. However, Mahela revealed that New Zealand left-arm spinner and T20 captain Mitchell Santner and England all-rounder.
Will Jacks
They requested an ‘extended break’ from MI, which they were granted.
“With the players that have joined, obviously Mitch and Jaxy (Will Jax) have asked for a little bit of extended time for personal reasons, and we were very happy to agree to that. But they will be joining the team very soon,” the head coach informed. Bumrah, Jax and Santner were 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 to India on 8 March, Santner led New Zealand in the first three T20Is against South Africa at home and was given a break in the last two.
Meanwhile, Jack was part of the England squad that lost to India in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium and left India on a chartered flight soon after.
It is not yet confirmed whether Santner or Jax have reached India. Both players are crucial overseas options for MI.Bumrah has been at the center of excellence for the past five days, but those tracking developments insisted that it was not due to any injury, but rather 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 very crucial spells at the death during the business end of the 2026 T20 World Cup, Bumrah stamped his class in the tournament.
MI will want the ‘King of Fast Bowlers’ to hit his stride early in IPL-2026.Let’s hope MI: Watson’s shocking first game record continuesMeanwhile, perpetually sluggish MI will be eager to end the jinx of losing the first match of the IPL every year when they take on KKR in the IPL season opener, while new KKR assistant coach Shane Watson will be hoping to capitalize on MI’s usual tendency to falter at the start of the season.“Well, let’s hope that the shocking record that MI had in the first match continues. Obviously, we are playing here at the Wankhede Stadium… it is a fortress. Mumbai Indians are very difficult to beat here. I have experienced this from a playing perspective and a coaching perspective, so you know we will definitely have to be at our best against MI. They are always full of match-winners across the board, so let’s hope the poor record to start the tournament continues.” Watson said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.Refreshed after enjoying ‘long break’, says Mahela, MI 2026 T20 World Cup champions Bumrah, India T20 captain
Suryakumar Yadav
star all-rounder and MI captain
Hardik Pandya
and Tilak Pharma will be raring to go.MI will want Suryakumar – the 35-year-old batsman who managed to score just 242 runs in nine matches at 30.25 at a strike rate of 136.72 and was out for a duck in the final – to rediscover his touch and replicate the consistency he showed in IPL-2025, when he scored 717 runs in 16 matches at 65.18, at a strike rate of 167.91, including five fifties.The five-time champions will also be pleased with the way their former captain and great is presented in the modern era
Rohit Sharma
It is set for the tournament. Aiming to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup in October-November next year, the 38-year-old will be keenly aware of how carefully his performance will be monitored during IPL-2026. In fact, with Rohit improving his fitness significantly in the last year, it does not look like MI will use the veteran batsman as an ‘influence player’ who will just bat and rest in the dugout for the rest of the match.Asked if Rohit’s lack of T20 playing time – he has not played a T20 match for 10 months, since his second qualifier appearance against Punjab Kings on June 1 last year – was an issue, Mahela praised the veteran batsman. “There is a transformation in Rohit. I have seen the commitment on his part. He has been training his skills for a longer period of time. This is what is under his control, what he can do, and I am very satisfied with what I have seen in the practice matches and in the nets.”
Hand speed, technique, everything. Moreover, he has experience as well, having played 18 years in the IPL on top of that. So I don’t have any problems with that. But it’s cricket. We have to understand that and then deal with that,” praised the MI coach.It remains to be seen who among the South African left-handers will open the match with Rohit – veteran batsman Quinton de Kock or Ryan Rickleton.