'If He Had Been Fit...': Glenn McGrath Makes Jaw-Dropping Claim On Jasprit Bumrah Ahead of IPL 2025

Indian Premier League 2025: Former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath made a jaw-dropping claim on the Mumbai Indians' speedster Jasprit Bumrah as he is set to miss the first few matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to a back injury. McGrath said that the 31-year-old is very important for Team India, and it was proved during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025. Since January, Bumrah has not played a single match as he continues to recover.

On March 15, a report from ESPNcricinfo stated that Bumrah will join the Mumbai Indians squad in April after getting a clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Centre of Excellence. The Indian seamer displayed a stupendous performance in the BGT 2024-2025, picking up 32 wickets from 9 innings. He was also the highest wicket-taker in the Test series against Australia. In the BGT 2024-25, India conceded a 3-1 series defeat against the Baggy Greens.

ALSO READ: Will Virat Kohli Attend RCB Unbox 2025 Event at M. Chinnaswamy Ahead of IPL 2025 Opener vs KKR in Kolkata?

While speaking to ToI, McGrath heaped praise on Bumrah and called him an 'experienced' and 'unique' fast bowler. The former Aussie cricketer added that if Bumrah had been fit for the Sydney Test in the BGT 2024-25, the result would have been better.

"He is an experienced fast bowler and is one of the best in the world. He is unique. I take keen interest in Jasprit and the way he goes. The recent Australia-India Test series showed how important he is to India. If you take Bumrah out of that series, it could have been very one-sided. If he had been fit enough to bowl in the second innings of the last Test (Sydney), you never know. To play five Tests in a row is a massive ask and you have to look after him," McGrath told ToI.

ALSO READ: Star Australian Seamer Praises Wicketkeeper-Batter Ahead Of IPL 2025, Calls Him 'Mr. Fix-it For India'

In the upcoming days, Bumrah will be seen in action with the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming season of the IPL 2025. The Indian fast bowler appeared in 133 IPL matches and scalped 165 wickets at an economy rate of 7.30 in the T20 tournament. In IPL 2024, Bumrah played 13 matches and bagged 20 wickets at an economy rate of 6.48.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will lock horns against each other in the opening fixture of the IPL 2025. While Mumbai Indians will start their campaign on March 23 against Chennai Super Kings.