New Delhi, March 25 – Jasprit Bumrah, India's leading fast bowler, has reportedly joined the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru as part of a structured workload management program ahead of the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Bumrah's time at the CoE is primarily focused on strength and conditioning, with the program designed by the BCCI's medical team prioritizing India's tour of England in July. The tour will feature five T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals (ODI).
It is understood that Bumrah continued bowling during his time at the facility and is expected to soon join his IPL franchise, the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI). He is likely to be available for their IPL 2026 opener against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 29.
Bumrah was the key performer for Team India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final, where he took four wickets in his four-over spell to help his team defend their title and win a second consecutive championship. The fast-bowler concluded his campaign as one of the tournament's top wicket-takers, alongside his teammate Varun Chakaravarthy, and was also awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance in the final against New Zealand.
Team India defeated the Black Caps by 96 runs to win the tournament on Sunday (March 8), at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This victory made India the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title and the first to win the tournament on home soil.
Bumrah, who has been a mainstay of Mumbai Indians since his IPL debut, has taken 186 wickets in 148 appearances and is close to breaking the record held by Lasith Malinga, with just nine wickets to go to become the franchise's all-time leading wicket-taker.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have begun their preparations at the Wankhede Stadium as they aim to secure a record sixth IPL title. The franchise last lifted the trophy in 2020 and is currently experiencing its longest title drought since its first triumph in 2013.