MUMBAI: Your next bottle of soft drink could cost you more and chances are that you will get lesser value out of the pack of biscuits or chips you buy. Consumer goods companies are implementing a mix of selective price hikes and grammage cuts to pass on some of the steep rise in input costs to consumers. Some firms are also looking at the option of smaller packs to make products more accessible for consumers. The West Asia conflict, which has now entered its fourth week, has triggered a surge in crude oil prices, shooting up raw material costs for companies. Crude oil has a direct bearing on packaging and logistics costs. Besides, crude derivatives are also used to manufacture several household products. “Some price corrections were already overdue over the past two years. Given the current environment, we have advanced this decision and will be implementing selective price increases effective April 1. In certain larger SKUs (stock keeping units), the increase may be slightly higher as there was some flexibility available through trade margin adjustments,” said Nikhil Doda, co-founder and chief operating officer at Lahori Zeera.Parle Products is looking to take selective price actions or grammage adjustments, said chief marketing officer Mayank Shah. “A more immediate and critical concern at this stage is the availability of fuel itself. It is important that policymakers differentiate between industrial users, with priority given to sectors linked to essential commodities like food to ensure there is no disruption in supply,” Shah said. Dabur will take price hikes wherever necessary, a company spokesperson said without sharing additional details. For FMCG companies, which had been betting on GST cuts to spur consumption after a long spell of sluggishness, the war risks slowing the pace of demand recovery just when revival was in sight. Firms had underlined improving consumption trends in their Q3 earnings. AWL Agri Business is pushing a wide range of pack sizes to the retail shelves starting from 200 ml. “If inflationary pressures continue, smaller pack sizes may help consumers manage their monthly household budgets more efficiently,” said managing director & CEO Shrikant Kanhere.“Household staples from soaps to packaged foods face margin pressure as petrochemical inputs rise. FMCG firms are weighing price hikes vs pack reduction-balancing margin protection with consumer demand,” said analysts at The Knowledge Company, who estimate packaging costs to have surged by 15%-20% on higher crude prices.

Just days before their IPL 2026 opener, Mumbai Indians (MI) find themselves dealing with unexpected uncertainty. Their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has checked into the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, and with no official clarification yet, fans are left anxious about his availability for the start of the season.

The situation has sparked concern mainly because of Bumrah’s absence from a recent Mumbai Indians team event, “The Mix.” While key players like Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma were present, Bumrah was nowhere to be seen. Instead, reports suggested he had travelled to the CoE – a facility known for rehabilitation and performance monitoring.

Jasprit Bumrah visit to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence 

What makes this development more intriguing is the lack of clarity. Neither the BCCI nor the Mumbai Indians management has confirmed whether Bumrah is dealing with an injury or simply undergoing routine fitness checks. This uncertainty has only fueled speculation, especially with MI set to face Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium.

Earlier, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene had indicated that players involved in India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign were given extra rest.

“Every year, our aim is to get there (win the IPL trophy). But I know it’s a long season. So pre-season will start the way we usually start, working hard, getting new boys into the setup. And with our (T20) World Cup guys, we’ve given them a bit of an extended break so that they will join us next weekend,” Jayawardene had said.

While that explains a delayed arrival, it doesn’t fully answer why Bumrah is currently at the CoE instead of linking up with the squad. Naturally, this has led to widespread speculation. Many believe it could simply be a precautionary assessment after his heavy workload, especially considering his standout performance in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand, where he delivered a match-winning spell.

For now, though, the silence from official channels continues to keep everyone guessing.

Also READ: “It’s about building a legacy…”: Hardik Pandya outlines his IPL 2026 ambitions for Mumbai Indians

Why Bumrah’s availability is crucial for Mumbai Indians?

The concern around Bumrah isn’t just about one player missing a game – it’s about the backbone of Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack. His numbers from IPL 2025 highlight exactly why his presence is so vital. He picked up 18 wickets in just 12 matches while maintaining a stunning economy rate of 6.67 – an extraordinary feat in a format dominated by high-scoring games.

Bumrah isn’t just another bowler; he’s MI’s go-to option in every phase – new ball, middle overs, and death. His ability to deliver under pressure makes him irreplaceable. Even with quality pacers like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar in the squad, replicating Bumrah’s unique skill set is nearly impossible.

As things stand, MI fans are left waiting for an official update. The hope remains that Bumrah’s visit to the CoE is just a precautionary step before he joins the squad fully fit. But until confirmation arrives, the question lingers – will MI have their biggest match-winner ready when IPL 2026 begins?

Also READ: Aakash Chopra predicts Mumbai Indians’ playing XI for IPL 2026, backs Rohit Sharma as top-scorer

Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru was the second-most-expensive franchise when the BCCI sold the original eight teams in the IPL. Vijay Mallya bought the Bengaluru franchise for $111.6 million (Rs 446.40 crore; $1 = Rs 40 then) in 2008, just behind the $111.90 million that Reliance Industries paid for the Mumbai Indians.“My sole purpose behind buying RCB was to promote my whisky brand, Royal Challenge; there wasn’t any cricket love behind it,” Mallya said recently during a podcast about his decision to buy RCB.