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Mumbai Indians (MI) bowlers’ struggle continued in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been far from his best as well. While his economy rate in the season is considerably better than teammates, he hasn’t had many wickets to his name. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he did not just go wicketless but conceded 56 runs, his fourth-most expensive spell in T20 career. After MI’s fifth defeat on the season, their batting coach Kieron Pollard admitted that Bumrah is going through a tough phase which he is allowed to have in his decorated career.
“When a cricketer is not doing well, we look at every single aspect as to why he's not doing well. And there's no difference to Jasprit Bumrah, all right? He has done this for years. And as a human being, he is entitled as well to make mistakes, not have a good day, not have a good season, not have a good couple of months. And I just feel that we need to sometimes sort of remember, you know, the good things that he has done. Yes, we try to live in the present, and he hasn't been up to mark, but he's still been a number one bowler, you know, for Mumbai Indians and India over a period of time," Pollard said in the post-match press conference.
Pollard expects critics to cut MI players some slack as their mistakes are highlighted more to people doing normal jobs. He wants
"I just feel that sometimes we can cut some slack to cricketers, because as I always say, we are unfortunate to always be in the public eye. So, when we do bad, it's always been highlighted, but when normal people have jobs and they send a wrong email, they have opportunity to edit the words and all these things. We don't have the opportunity. So, it's fair and fine when you're not doing well, you accept, certain things," he added.
Before signing off, Pollard backed Bumrah to bounce back. MI have lost six games but they are not out of the tournament. They will have to treat every game as a must-win one.
"And knowing the individual, I know he's going to bounce back, you know, with greater heights and take wickets, and we know all again going to be singing Bumrah, not only for Mumbai Indians, but for India. So, again, let's cut him a little slack and let's see if that might help him as well. We see some good things written about him," he said.
Rare blip in Bumrah’s IPL career
In IPL 2026, Bumrah has managed to take just two wickets at an average of 132. His economy rate is 8.80 runs per over. The last time Bumrah took wickets in single digits in a season was in 2015. He had played four games and claimed three wickets. Since then, there hasn't been a season where he hasn't taken 15 or more wickets.
Bumrah will be seen in action when MI go up against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) away from home on May 2.
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