Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has disclosed that he recommended Jasprit Bumrah to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the 2014 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. Patel, who was picked by the franchise himself on the first day of the event, stated that he identified the potential in the young bowler early on and urged the team management to sign him.
However, the recommendation did not lead to a signing. Speaking on a podcast with former cricketer Aakash Chopra, Patel explained that the RCB management at the time did not believe Bumrah could make a significant impact. Reflecting on the incident, Patel noted that his public comments regarding the suggestion, which he made during a broadcast, might have been poorly phrased.
Ultimately, Bumrah was acquired by the Mumbai Indians, the franchise where he had made his IPL debut in 2013. Since then, he has established himself as a cornerstone of the Mumbai Indians' bowling attack. Over the course of 158 matches for the franchise, the fast bowler has claimed 187 wickets at an economy rate of 7.33. Ahead of the 2024 mega auction, he was retained by the team as their highest-paid player.
Bumrah’s career has continued to evolve within the Mumbai Indians setup. Earlier in 2026, he made his captaincy debut for the franchise in a match against the Punjab Kings in Dharamshala, stepping in for regular skipper Hardik Pandya and stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav. His leadership debut proved successful, as the team secured a six-wicket victory in that encounter.
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