Jasprit Bumrah joins Mumbai Indians squad ahead of IPL 2026 season opener against KKR

Indian ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah has linked up with the Mumbai Indians squad ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season opener against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The fast-bowler was reported to have visited the BCCI Centre of Excellence in the outskirts of Bengaluru, to monitor his workload and work on his strength and conditioning following the culmination of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 

As reported by the Indian Express, Bumrah was confirmed to have joined the squad on Friday evening (March 27), and is reported to train with the team on Saturday evening (March 28). 

Bumrah is coming off the back of a stellar T20 World Cup campaign, where he picked up 14 scalps, the joint-highest alongside compatriot Varun Chakravarthy. The speedster was crucial in India’s march to the title, with his key spells helping down teams throughout the tournament. He finished the semifinals with figures of 1/35, where he just conceded 14 runs in his last two overs, helping dent England’s progress in a mammoth 254 chase. Defending a massive 256 against New Zealand in the final, Bumrah’s 4/15 broke the back of the New Zealand innings, bundling them out for just 159. 

BCCI officials have been tracking Bumrah’s fitness, keeping in mind India’s one-off test against Afghanistan in early June, before a white-ball series in England in July. 

With 186 scalps for the Mumbai Indians, Bumrah has the most wickets for the five-time champions in the IPL, and is just nine wickets behind the great Lasith Malinga as the all-time leading wicket-taker for the franchise. 

Mumbai will be hoping their ace speedster will be available for the season without any hassle, as they are chasing their record-breaking sixth crown. Bumrah’s addition will boost the squad, with New Zealand white-ball skipper Mitchell Santner and England all-rounder Will Jacks, two players who performed in 2025, yet to join the squad.

The five-time champions start their IPL 2026 campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29, at the Wankhede Stadium. They have not won the opening game of the season since 2012.