Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah recently shared his thoughts on being retained as the first player for the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Bumrah talked about his growing role within the team as he’s gone from a young, up-and-coming player to a leader with years of experience.
Bumrah feels a strong responsibility to guide MI’s younger players. Reflecting on his journey with the franchise, which began when he joined at 19, he acknowledged how far he’s come.
Bumrah recalled how Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga was key in shaping his skills and approach to the game. Now as a father to a young son named Angad, Bumrah feels it’s time to pass on what he’s learned to the next generation of players at MI.
With his extensive experience Bumrah is ready to help younger players handle the challenges of professional cricket, just as he was once supported by seasoned players in his early days. He hopes to inspire and lead by example nurturing MI’s next generation of cricketers.
In a video shared by MI, Bumrah expressed, “It feels good. I came here as a 19-year-old teenager and now I’m going to turn 31. I have a son, so it’s been a complete journey. I’m happy that the journey is continuing, and yeah, no better feeling. When I came, all the legends of the game were here, and I used to ask a lot of questions. Now my role is changing, and I feel happy to help younger players because I got a lot of help when I started.”
He also emphasized MI’s winning culture, having won the IPL five times. Since their first title in 2013, MI claimed championships in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Bumrah highlighted the importance of having a winning mentality, saying that just participating isn’t enough. He praised the support of MI’s fans and the intense atmosphere at Wankhede Stadium, which fuels the team’s drive to win.
