Bumrah to lead MI against PBKS in absence of Hardik, Suryakumar

Jasprit Bumrah will captain Mumbai Indians against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday. Thirteen years after first turning out for the franchise, Bumrah will lead the five-time champions at the HPCA stadium. He has played 156 games for MI.

"A kid with a unique action bowled yorkers at will. That same kid, now a legend of the game, will lead Blue and Green in Dharamsala," Mumbai Indians said in a statement confirming Bumrah's appointment as skipper.

Bumrah's elevation to captaincy was necessitated by the absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, the captain and stand-in captain respectively. Rohit Sharma, a five-time IPL-winning captain, could also have been an option but has largely featured as an Impact Player in recent games.

Bumrah (33), who has led India in the past before declining a full-time leadership role, will be the third captain of the side this year, after Pandya and Suryakumar. He has been playing for MI since 2013 and has not represented any other IPL side.

Bumrah has captained India in two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests in Australia during the 2024-25 series, as well as in the Test against England in Birmingham in 2022.

Both Suryakumar and Pandya, notably absent in Dharamsala over the last two days, are yet to arrive in the hill city. Tickets were booked for both players but there is no immediate confirmation of either making the trip.

Pandya has been troubled by back spasms since the game against Chennai Super Kings on May 2 and has missed the last two matches. He recently trained at Reliance Corporate Park, but the medical team is yet to give him full clearance.

Sources have ruled out any possibility of Pandya being traded to another franchise, dismissing social media speculation as unfounded.

The teams cut short their practice session at HPCA stadium on Wednesday night due to inclement weather. The weather since morning has been clear, and the 58th match of the season should go ahead.