IPL 2025: Gavaskar Predicts Bumrah Could Reach 150 kmph
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Synopsis
On April 8, 2025, Sunil Gavaskar discussed Jasprit Bumrah's return in the IPL 2025 match against RCB, noting his potential to reach 150 kmph with more games. He also commented on Rohit Sharma's performance, emphasizing the importance of consistency for building confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Sunil Gavaskar praised Bumrah's return and speed.
- Bumrah aims to regain confidence and hit 150 kmph.
- Rohit Sharma needs to score consistently for confidence.
- MI suffered their fourth loss of the season.
- Mark Boucher commented on MI’s partnership.
Mumbai, April 8 (NationPress) - Indian cricketing icon Sunil Gavaskar expressed his views on Jasprit Bumrah‘s comeback during the IPL 2025 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday. Gavaskar highlighted that although the pace bowler performed at his usual speed exceeding 140 kmph, he is expected to gain confidence with more matches and may soon achieve the 150 kmph mark.
Bumrah has been undergoing rehabilitation following a lower back injury sustained during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Sydney this past January, where he finished with figures of 0-29 in his four overs against RCB.
While discussing Bumrah’s performance on JioHotstar, Gavaskar remarked, "The primary observation was watching him bowl at his typical pace - over 140 kmph. I’m confident that with a few more matches, he’ll likely hit 150 kmph as he regains confidence in his back and feels secure to bowl at his full capacity."
“In T20 cricket, where bowlers don’t have to bowl for extended periods, it’s considerably simpler for them to maintain sharpness and bowl at full speed. This is precisely what we observed with Bumrah. Had it not been for his efforts, RCB could have amassed 240–250 runs,” he added.
Gavaskar also discussed former captain Rohit Sharma, who returned for the RCB match after missing the previous game against the Lucknow Super Giants due to a knee injury, suggesting that scoring a consistent 30–40 runs would aid in rebuilding his confidence.
Rohit has experienced his poorest start in the IPL since 2020, having been dismissed for a duck against Chennai Super Kings and scoring only 8, 13, and 17 in the following matches.
Gavaskar believes that Rohit's dismissal during the powerplay has significant consequences for both Mumbai Indians and India.
“In the upcoming matches, they’ll be looking for a solid performance. Even though he may not score a significant total immediately, if he can bat through the power-play into the 8th or 9th over and secure a steady 30–40, it would be beneficial for his confidence. However, getting out early during the powerplay is detrimental for him, whether playing for Mumbai Indians, India, or any other team,” he explained.
“He has so much potential to contribute. I think his shot selection could use some refinement. Being aggressive and scoring during the first six overs is essential, but selecting the right risks is crucial. If he finds that balance, he’ll be back to making substantial runs,” he concluded.
MI faced their fourth loss of the season, falling short by 12 runs against RCB in an exhilarating match at the Wankhede Stadium.
Former MI coach Mark Boucher evaluated MI’s performance, stating, "They had a bit of a slow start. It was impressive to see Suryakumar batting at such a high strike rate. However, when Tilak and Hardik teamed up, Hardik had to step in immediately. Tilak Verma supported him exceptionally well, especially following the last game."
"That partnership was crucial in bringing MI back into contention. At that moment, Josh Hazlewood had bowled two excellent overs, making it remarkable for Hardik to come in and hit him all over the park. Hardik hadn’t faced a ball until then, so he arrived fresh when the game was critical. The shots he played during that over were extraordinary and, alongside Tilak, helped MI recover," he concluded.
