India, March 28 -- Jasprit Bumrah's brief stay at the BCCI Centre of Excellence had naturally raised questions around his readiness for the start of IPL 2026, especially after he was spotted away from the Mumbai Indians' main pre-season setup earlier this week. But speaking in the Mumbai Indians' pre-match press conference ahead of their season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, March 29, head coach Mahela Jayawardene made it clear that the India pacer's delayed buildup was part of a managed process, and that he had now rejoined the squad and was available for selection.

The timing had made the situation notable. Less than a week before the IPL season began, Bumrah was reported to have reached the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru, but ...