'Two things are causing problems': Irfan Pathan reveals reason behind Bumrah's wicket-less IPL 2026 campaign

Five matches into IPL 2026, Jasprit Bumrah remains wicketless, a startling drought for a pace maestro whose career has been defined by clinical consistency. For a bowler who has set exceptionally high standards, Bumrah's wicketless spells is a rare sight.

Jasprit Bumrah's wicket-less spell is MI's biggest headache

Meanwhile, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared a candid assessment of Bumrah’s uncharacteristically quiet start to the IPL 2026 season. Despite Mumbai Indians pace spearhead failing to take a single wicket in his first five matches, Pathan clarified that he does not believe injury is the cause. Instead, he pointed to technical factors, noting that Bumrah has been relying too heavily on slower balls, using them nearly 44 per cent of the time, and often bowling them too short rather than maintaining his signature high pace and full length.

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Pathan emphasised that while Bumrah remains a GOAT, he is still human and is currently hampered by a struggling MI bowling unit. Even with high-profile teammates like Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and Shardul Thakur, the collective has failed to create sustained pressure. Pathan observed that without early breakthroughs from the other end, Bumrah has often been forced into a defensive role, focusing more on containing runs than attacking for wickets.

In the spin department, the presence of Allah Ghazanfar and Mitchell Santner has also failed to turn the tide for the franchise. The lack of penetration from the entire unit has allowed opposition batters to play Bumrah with extreme caution, simply seeing off his overs while targeting the other bowlers. Pathan noted that this shift in tactics has left Bumrah with fewer opportunities to strike, despite maintaining respectable economy rates in a high-scoring tournament. To rectify this dry spell, Pathan suggested a return to basics on his YouTube channel. He advised Bumrah to reduce the frequency of his slower deliveries and focus on bowling his variations at a fuller length. By mixing in more high-pace deliveries and forcing batters to adapt to seam movement again, Pathan believes Bumrah can break his wicketless streak and revitalise Mumbai’s campaign, which has seen them win only one of their first five games.