Mumbai Indians have received a major boost as Jasprit Bumrah, their ace fast bowler, has rejoined the squad after completing his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His return comes just in time ahead of the high-voltage clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

Out since January due to a back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, Bumrah missed MI’s opening games this season — a period marked by the franchise’s disappointing performance, winning just one out of their first four matches.

Though it’s still uncertain whether Bumrah will be cleared to play against RCB on April 7, there is growing optimism around his return for MI’s April 17 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). His presence could be the turning point for a side desperate for stability in their bowling attack.

The speedster has been central to Mumbai Indians’ success since debuting in 2013, racking up 165 wickets in 133 matches. Regarded as one of the best pacers across all formats, Bumrah’s return has lifted the mood in the MI camp.

SRH all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is already looking forward to the challenge of facing Bumrah. “He’s one of the best bowlers in the world. Scoring against him would mean a lot. Facing players like him makes the game truly exciting,” Reddy said on Gen Bold, a JioHotstar show.

He also praised the golden generation of Indian cricket, saying, “This era has been shaped by legends like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah. They’ve set a high benchmark we all aspire to reach.”

Meanwhile, MI’s woes continue with the underwhelming form of ex-captain Rohit Sharma, adding pressure to turn their season around as quickly as possible.

By Mohammad Javed Rasheedi

The final ODI between New Zealand and Pakistan at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, wasn’t just about cricket—it had bouncers, boundaries, slogans and some unexpected off-the-field heat. It was not less than a drama straight out of a reality TV script. While fans came expecting wickets, they got a little ringside WWE entertainment as Khushdil Shah nearly turned Bay Oval into Bay Brawl. Later, he was dragged away by security after a heated clash with spectators.

It all started when a few spectators—believed to be Afghan nationals—decided to heckle the Pakistan players with some anti-Pakistan slogans and abusive language in Pashto.

Khushdil Shah, clearly not in the mood to let it slide, walked up to the boundary like “Excuse me, what did you say about my team?” And boom, things got heated faster than a PSL vs IPL Twitter debate.

Soon, security had to step in like, “Sir, this is a cricket match, not a cage fight.” One fan was even seen holding back the visibly agitated Khushdil, who may or may not have considered launching a cricket bat into the stands.

PCB condemnation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn’t take the incident lightly. In a statement, the board condemned the abusive language and confirmed that players were subjected to offensive remarks from spectators.

“Foreign spectators hurled inappropriate remarks at cricketers on the field. When anti-Pakistan slogans emerged, Khushdil Shah intervened and urged restraint. In response, the crowd escalated the situation with more abuse in Pashto,” the PCB said in a statement.

Following a formal complaint by the team, stadium officials ejected the two disruptive spectators from the venue.

What happened in the actual match?

Oh yes, remember the cricket part?

Ben Sears delivered another lethal spell to help New Zealand whitewash Pakistan 3-0. The pacer took his second five-wicket haul in a row and became the first Kiwi ever to do so. Move over Shane Bond — there’s a new bad boy in town.

Pakistan, chasing 265 in a 42-over game, had a decent start before Imam-ul-Haq got hit in the jaw and had to retire hurt. After that, it was mostly Babar Azam vs. New Zealand. Spoiler: New Zealand won.

Babar fought valiantly with a classy fifty, but once Daryl Mitchell and Jacob Duffy got going, wickets started falling like dominos. In the end, Pakistan folded for 221, and New Zealand celebrated with a clean sweep and probably some sheep jokes.

New Zealand completed a dominant 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan in the ODI leg of their white-ball tour, thanks to historic performances from Ben Sears and Daryl Mitchell, who etched their names into the record books during the third ODI at Mount Maunganui on Saturday, April 5.

Sears’ sensational spell stuns Pakistan again

Pacer Ben Sears produced another fiery display, bagging his second consecutive five-wicket haul in the series—making him the first New Zealand player to achieve back-to-back fifers in ODI cricket. Not even Kiwi pace greats like Shane Bond or spin wizard Daniel Vettori have managed this feat, making Sears’ performance truly one for the ages.

The 26-year-old seamer’s remarkable consistency earned him the Player of the Series award, underlining his emergence as a key asset in New Zealand’s bowling arsenal.

Mitchell becomes fastest Kiwi to 2000 ODI runs

All-rounder Daryl Mitchell also joined the history books with the bat. His 43-run knock not only steadied the innings but helped him breach the 2000-run milestone in ODIs. He achieved the feat in just 47 innings, becoming the fastest New Zealander to reach the mark.

Mitchell surpassed the previous Kiwi record held by Andrew Jones, who took 52 innings back in 1991. Former captain Kane Williamson is now third on the list, having reached the milestone in 54 innings. Globally, Mitchell is now joint-eighth fastest overall, in a list topped by India’s Shubman Gill (38 innings).

The third ODI, reduced to 42 overs per side due to a wet outfield, saw New Zealand post 264/8 after being put in to bat. Debutant Rhys Mariu notched up his maiden half-century, while Mitchell, Tim Seifert, and Michael Bracewell chipped in with vital contributions during the middle and death overs.

Pakistan began their chase with promise as Abdullah Shafique and skipper Babar Azam added early stability. Babar reached yet another half-century, keeping the visitors in contention. However, the tide turned quickly as wickets fell under scoreboard pressure, especially after the asking rate climbed above 10 runs per over.

Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered a facial injury in the previous match, was substituted with Usman Khan, but the latter failed to leave a mark. Pakistan eventually crumbled to 221 all out, losing the match by 43 runs and conceding a clean sweep.