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Former India's star batter Kris Srikkanth did not hold back in his assessment of Jasprit Bumrah following Mumbai Indians' (recent struggle against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Srikkanth voiced his confusion regarding Bumrah's uncharacteristic performance, questioning why the premier pacer appeared to abandon the aggressive, clinical bowling style that has defined his career.
Kris Srikkanth calls Jasprit Bumrah ordinary amidst shoddy show in IPL 2026
The critique follows a high-scoring affair at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, April 29, where MI failed to defend a massive total of 243. Despite his reputation as a death-overs specialist, Bumrah proved expensive, conceding 54 runs across his four overs without claiming a single wicket. This defensive lapse contributed significantly to Mumbai’s sixth loss in just eight matches this season.
Elaborating on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth specifically highlighted Bumrah's failure to utilize the new ball during the powerplay. He suggested that by not attacking early when the ball was most effective, Bumrah missed crucial opportunities to dismantle the SRH batting lineup, ultimately leaving the MI bowling unit vulnerable.
"Even Bumrah bowled too many slower ones. You have the new ball with you and two left-handers in front of you," Srikkanth said on his Youtube channel.
Srikkanth urged Bumrah to return to a more traditional, aggressive approach, suggesting that he focus on "nicking off" batters rather than relying on tactical variations. He criticized the frequent use of slower deliveries with the new ball, labeling the tactic as ineffective for a bowler of Bumrah's caliber. To illustrate his point, Srikkanth drew a comparison to Jofra Archer’s recent performances, noting that Archer has found success by bowling at full throttle to find the outside edge for catches behind the stumps or in the slip cordon.
Furthermore, the former opener observed a distinct lack of sharpness in the ace pacer's current form. While acknowledging that Bumrah was putting in maximum physical effort throughout his spell, Srikkanth pointed out that the trademark zip and intimidating pace that usually define his bowling were noticeably absent.
"Bumrah is not getting that zip at all. Not one delivery looked threatening. Maybe he is tired, so I am not blaming him. But he is clearly not at his best. He is trying hard but looking very ordinary," he added.
Jasprit Bumrah's evident struggles in IPL 2026
In stark contrast, Bumrah is navigating one of the most challenging lean patches of his career. His statistics for the season are uncharacteristically high, with only two wickets in eight matches at an average of 132.00 and an economy rate of 8.80. Perhaps most telling is his strike rate of 90.00.
This slump is partly due to a shift in how opposition batters are handling him. Rather than adopting a cautious wait-and-see approach, teams are now actively targeting him from the start of his spell. This aggressive mindset has forced Bumrah into a rare defensive position, a far cry from the dominance he typically exerts over the league.
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