MI replaces Jasprit Bumrah with experienced domestic performer for IPL 2023

The action-packed 16th edition of the cash-rich league will get going on Friday, March 31. The first game will take place between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium. Both teams will look to start the tournament on a winning note.

Meanwhile, the team that has won the most IPL season, Mumbai Indians, will look to turn the tables this time around. MI finished the TATA IPL 2022 at the bottom with only four wins. They will look to do well in the coming season and win their sixth IPL title.

But MI suffered probably the biggest setback when Jasprit Bumrah couldn't make it in time. The 29-year-old has been ruled out of the entire season, which will be a big miss for the five-time champions, and why not? He is the leader of the MI attack.

Bumrah was also the highest wicket-taker for MI in 2022. In 14 games, he took 15 wickets with a best figure of 5/10. And without Bumrah, MI might suffer with their bowling. The only positive for them will be the return of Jofra Archer. Meanwhile, to compensate, the franchise announced Bumrah's replacement on Friday and also confirmed that he is officially out of the season.

MI has signed veteran pacer Sandeep Warrier at his base price of INR 20 lakh. The 31-year-old went unsold in the 2023 IPL auction. He has featured in the IPL earlier but has only five games under his belt, taking two IPL wickets. Warrier played a solo T20 match for India in 2021 against Sri Lanka.

He was also part of RCB (2013–2015) and KKR (2019–2021) in the IPL. It will be still be a question whether he will get a chance in the team. However, he has experience playing T20s at the domestic level. In 68 T20s, he has taken 62 wickets at an economy rate of 7.20 and will join MI before their first game on Sunday against Royal Challengers Bangalore.