We are 24 matches into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, out of which Mumbai Indians have played five and won just one. However, the talk of the tournament is not about how well Virat Kohli has played or MS Dhoni’s continued absence. It is about India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah not having picked up a single wicket in the tournament so far. Known as someone who can change a game in any phase, Bumrah has struggled to pick up wickets this season, and as a result, MI have found it tough to contain the batters.
MI’s struggles
They leaked 220 against a struggling Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), conceded 150 in an 11-over contest against Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) smashed 240 against them, and most recently, Punjab Kings (PBKS) chased down 196 with seven wickets and 21 balls to spare.
MI dropped Trent Boult, who picked up just one wicket across three matches in the tournament, conceding at 12.22 an over, due to poor form. Should MI dish out the same treatment to Bumrah?
That would certainly deplete an already struggling pace unit. It’s not just Bumrah who is struggling, MI’s pace attack as a whole has been sup-par. In fact, their pacers have picked up the fewest wickets (11) this season, and not surprisingly have the worst average (65.81), economy rate (11.37) and strike rate (34.7). Moreover, their spinners have failed to have any control this season, as they are the only unit with an economy rate of 10 or more (11.09).
As a result, regardless of what the batters put on the board, the bowlers’ poor form has let MI down. While it would be unfair to single Bumrah out as the lone reason behind MI’s poor season, there is no doubt that the pacer’s poor returns have made things worse for the five-time champions.
Bumrah still the best?
Amid the rotten form, one must not forget that only two bowlers have more wickets than Bumrah (183) since his debut in 2013. Bumrah’s 183 wickets in this period have come in just 150 matches, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar (194 wickets) and Yuzvendra Chahal (224) wickets have played 180 and 179 matches, respectively. Moreover, Bumrah has the best economy rate (7.29) in this period among pacers who have at least 100 scalps.
Bumrah has gone six matches without a wicket in IPL, dating back to last season, and MI have lost five of them.
Just about 40 days ago, Bumrah lifted the T20 World Cup with India in Ahmedabad and finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps. Everything pointed towards Bumrah having a stellar season with MI. While it may have started badly, there is no doubt that it will be a matter of time before he finds his mojo back.
Return to Ahmedabad just what Bumrah needs?
Incidentally, Bumrah returns to Ahmedabad for MI’s next game against Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 20. At a venue where he has bowled on many occasions at the domestic and international circuit and arguably had the best night of his life on March 8, Bumrah would hope that he ends his drought and reminds the world as to why he is the very best in the business today.
That could very well be the fire MI need to bounce back in the tournament and stake their claim for a place in the top four. Not just MI, but Team India too needs their talismanic bowler to deliver.
For more news & updates, follow The Crichub on X and YouTube
