NEW DELHI: After suffering a disappointing defeat in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season opener against Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians have shifted their focus to team cohesion ahead of their upcoming challenge.
The five-time champions, who fell short at Chepauk on Sunday, departed for Ahmedabad the following morning but will make a strategic stopover in Jamnagar for team bonding activities before their clash with Gujarat Titans.
This brief retreat comes at a crucial time for the Mumbai outfit, who struggled on a sluggish Chennai surface where their batting never found momentum. The team will be significantly strengthened by the return of regular captain Hardik Pandya, who was forced to sit out the opener due to a carry-over slow-over rate penalty from the previous season.
“The team environment is our priority right now,” a source close to the franchise revealed. “After a disappointing start, these few days in Jamnagar will help reset mentally and build stronger connections before the pressure of the next match.”
Despite his absence from the playing XI, Pandya traveled with the squad and was seen striking the ball impressively in practice sessions. Stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav couldn’t make a significant impact with the bat, while former captain Rohit Sharma’s dismissal for a duck further compounded Mumbai’s batting woes.
Among the few positives from their season opener was the performance of Deepak Chahar and the impressive debut of 24-year-old chinaman bowler Vignesh Puthur, who claimed three wickets and displayed remarkable composure in front of a packed Chennai crowd.
“Vignesh showed tremendous character,” Mumbai’s batting coach commented after the match. “To come into your first IPL game in such challenging circumstances and deliver that performance speaks volumes about his potential.”
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround the availability of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Mumbai Indians bowling coach Paras Mhambrey provided an update, stating that the star fast bowler is making good progress in his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
“We’re in constant communication with the medical team overseeing Jasprit’s recovery,” Mhambrey confirmed. “He’s been an integral part of MI for years and remains a valuable asset. His return will be determined based on medical advice, with no specific timeline established yet.”
The team’s strategic retreat to Jamnagar reflects the management’s emphasis on mental preparation alongside physical training. With several days before their showdown against Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians are looking to regroup and address the issues that plagued them in their opening fixture.
The clash against Gujarat Titans will be particularly significant for Pandya, who led the Gujarat franchise before returning to Mumbai Indians last season amid considerable controversy. His leadership will be under scrutiny as Mumbai look to get their campaign back on track.