Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah IPL factfile

- Jasprit Bumrah is one of the key players in Mumbai Indians' (MI) rise to becoming five-time champions in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is their second-highest wicket-taker after Lasith Malinga.

- Bumrah is coming into IPL 2024 after a successful recovery from a back injury that forced him to miss the 2023 season.

- Bumrah was spotted by MI after just one season of domestic T20 cricket and signed as an uncapped player ahead of IPL 2013. He played just two matches in his debut season and his first IPL wicket was that of Virat Kohli. His 100th IPL wicket, in IPL 2020, was also that of Kohli.

- Since 2014, Bumrah has been a key part of the MI bowling unit and has grown to become its undisputed leader. With his unique action and high pace, Bumrah possesses a bagful of variations and a lethally accurate yorker, and is a force in every stage of the game.

- Bumrah was MI's highest wicket-taker in three of their IPL title wins, taking 20 wickets in 2017, 19 in 2019, and 27 in 2020. He was also part of the squad when Mumbai won titles in 2013 and 2015, though he didn't play many games because he was new in 2013 and injured in 2015.

Jasprit Bumrah player profile

Jasprit Bumrah grabbed eyeballs first with his unorthodox action, and then his bowling skills. Armed with an anomalous, sling-arm action and natural pace, the peculiar release point of Bumrah's deliveries makes it hard for batsmen to pick him.

Besides, like his Mumbai Indians team-mate, Lasith Malinga, Bumrah carved himself a reputation for possessing an uncanny ability to hit the blockhole. And, it was during his time in the IPL that he learned from the Sri Lankan to judiciously use the yorker.

A regular member of the India A team, Bumrah was on the fringes of national selection before a debilitating left knee injury at the end of 2014 kept him out for four-and-a-half months. He had to wait more than a year before earning another call-up, one which came on the back of a fruitful 2015-16 domestic season, where he was Gujarat's second-highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy and topped the bowling charts in the Vijay Hazare Trophy - that included a five-for in the List-A final that gave Gujarat their maiden one-day title.

Those performances, and an untimely injury to Mohammed Shami, meant Bumrah took the flight to Australia, where he played a central role for India, finishing as the highest wicket-taker from either side as the visitors swept the T20Is 3-0. It was a showing that earned him the praise of MS Dhoni - who called him the find of the tour - as well as a place in India's squad for the 2016 World T20.
ESPNcricinfo staff