'Mumbai replaced TV with remote' - Fans react as Mumbai announce replacement for Jasprit Bumrah ahead of Indian T20 League 2023

Jarprit Bumrah: (Image Source: Twitter)

Ahead of the first match of the 2023 Indian T20 League, Mumbai announced the replacement for their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to a back injury. The veteran fast bowler will be replaced by Sandeep Warrier, who will join the squad before their opening match of the season against Bangalore.

"Sandeep Warrier, right-arm fast bowler, will join the Mumbai squad as a replacement player for Jasprit Bumrah. Sandeep, who debuted for India in 2021, is an experienced player in the domestic circuit having played over 200 games with 69 of them in T20 format, taking 362 wickets in his career so far across formats," the franchise said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

Warrier has played 66 first-Class, 69 List A and 68 T20 matches in the domestic circuit and has taken 217, 83 and 62 wickets respectively. He made his made his international debut for the Indian cricket team in the shortest format at Colombo in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. The 31-year-old represented Kerala in domestic cricket before moving to Tamil Nadu in 2020.

Mumbai eye sixth ITL trophy

The five-time champions Mumbai will kick off their 2023 campaign against Faf du Plessis-led Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 2. The Rohit Sharma-led side did not perform well last season as they finished at the bottom of the points table. And this time, the Bule Army suffered a huge blow ahead of the tournament as they will be missing the services of Bumrah.

The 29-year-old underwent back surgery in New Zealand and will need a few months off to recover. Bumrah last played for India in September 2022. The right-arm pacer has already missed the last T20 World Cup and may miss the upcoming Test Championship final against Australia.

He had been spearheading Mumbai's pace attack, over the years, however, England's Jofra Archer will lead their pace attack in his absence. With quality players in their squad, Mumbai are one of the top contenders to win the title this year.

This is how the fans reacted to Sandeep Warrier replacing Jasprit Bumrah in Mumbai: 

Finished bowler replacing finished

— 𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐘𝐀`𝙼𝚂𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚗•🦁 (@Dhoni_Era07) March 31, 2023

Time to hype him:- Mumbai fans

— VISHAL 🇮🇳 (@VISHALVK18R) March 31, 2023

Good bowler ...but will serve drinks only

— @imbanerji (@imbanerji) March 31, 2023

MI replaced TV with remote

— vhrr (@vhrr16572668) March 31, 2023

10th position fixed.

— Vicky (@okhtcbj) March 31, 2023

Kulkarni was better

— Ankit (@ankit153_) March 31, 2023

excellent replacement.. title confirm

— Rajasheker Reddi (@reddirajasheker) March 31, 2023

But people were saying Bumrah avoiding international matches for country and will be fit for IPL because of money. 🫣

— Shrey Mishra (@SHREYMI07790454) March 31, 2023

Worst replacement ever

— SK big fan of 💞PSPK💞 (@SaiSkv45) March 31, 2023