Jasprit Bumrah To Leave Mumbai Indians? Three Reasons Why Star Pacer Is Upset With Nita and Akash Ambani

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Jasprit Bumrah might not be in action in the ongoing T20I series between India and Australia, but has been constantly making headlines amid the retention and release of players ahead of IPL 2024.

The star India pacer has been retained by Mumbai Indians (MI) alongside other India stars like Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Verma. The retention is not at all surprising considering that Bumrah has been the core part of Mumbai Indians since 2013.

However, things took an interesting turn after Mumbai Indians roped in Hardik Pandya in the biggest transfer in IPL history. Cameron Green, who was bought for a whopping Rs 17.5 crore, was traded in return for the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain.

Hardik Pandya's homecoming to Mumbai Indians (MI) might just have raised Bumrah's eyebrows for multiple reasons. A cryptic Instagram Story from the 29-year-old has fuelled speculations that everything is not good between Bumrah and Mumbai Indians owners Nita and Akash Ambani. "Silence is sometimes the best answer," Bumrah posted.

Is Jasprit Bumrah leaving Mumbai Indians? Reasons why he is Upset With Nita and Akash Ambani

The captaincy factor: 36-year-old Rohit Sharma could lead the five-time champions for many more years like MS Dhoni. But there is also a strong possibility that Mumbai Indians can lay out a plan to groom a new leader with Rohit still in the squad. The same would pave way for a smooth transition. The 'One Family' vision of MI would come to life with Rohit handing over his baton to his successor.

Hardik Pandya has understandably been brought back with a plan to appoint him the future captain of the Mumbai Indians. The all-rounder had left two years ago to fulfil his captaincy ambitions. He won the trophy for GT in his first attempt, and finished as the runners-up in the following edition.

Hardik is also the T20I captain of India now. The proven leader is the frontrunner to be the successor of Rohit Sharma. This might not have gone well with Bumrah who has shown loyalty and waited patiently to lead the pack.

The pay factor: Jasprit Bumrah was the second highest paid player at Mumbai Indians after Rohit Sharma in the IPL 2023. After Hardik Pandya left MI ahead of IPL 2022, Rohit Sharma was the first player retained with a salary of Rs 16 crore. Bumrah took the second spot with a salary of Rs 12 crore.

Mumbai Indians have brought back Hardik Pandya for Rs 15 crore. Jasprit Bumrah's salary is far less than someone like 25-year-old Sam Curran who gets Rs 18.50 crore from Punjab Kings (PBKS), and 24-year-old Cameron Green who fetches Rs 17.50 crore from the cash rich league.

One of the greatest bowlers of this generation, Bumrah might have felt letdown by the franchise for the same reason. It's a fact that if Bumrah puts himself in the auction, he will fetch an amount greater than Rs 12 crore.

The loyalty factor: Jasprit Bumrah has played for Mumbai Indians his whole life. Since 2013, he has featured in 120 matches and picked 145 wickets at an average of 23.30 and has been part of four IPL title-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

Like any other corporate employee, an athlete also develops expectations from his franchise after being with them for the longest period. However, watching Mumbai Indians bring back Hardik Pandya, who left in 2022 to lead a different franchise, in a bigger role and a better amount, might have hurt Bumrah.