Jasprit Bumrah has stretched his wicket drought in the ongoing IPL season, remaining wicketless again as Mumbai Indians faced Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. In that match, the fast bowler returned figures of 0 for 41 and has now gone without a wicket for a fifth straight game.
Quick facts
At a glance
- Jasprit Bumrah stayed wicketless in IPL 2026
- His spell vs Punjab Kings: 0/41 at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday
- It was his fifth consecutive match of the season without a wicket
- Bumrah’s economy rate in the season: 8.63
- Irfan Pathan highlighted Bumrah’s heavy use of slower balls and average speed around 130 kmph
- Pathan’s suggestion: cut slower-ball share to roughly 35% (or 30–35%) to improve effectiveness
- Punjab Kings chased 196 in 16.3 overs
- PBKS’ Prabhsimran Singh: 80* off 39; Shreyas Iyer: 66 off 35
- Result for Mumbai Indians: fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2026; only win so far is the campaign opener
The lean run has also come with runs flowing, with Bumrah leaking at an economy rate of 8.63. Irfan Pathan, while analysing the situation, pointed out that there is no glaring concern with Bumrah’s overall form, but the bowler’s speed profile in 2026 has been less impactful than usual.
Pathan said Bumrah’s average pace this season has hovered around 130 kmph. He also noted that Bumrah has been using the slower ball in about 44% of his deliveries, which effectively means the slower option appears on nearly every second ball.
In a video uploaded on Thursday ahead of the MI vs PBKS game, Pathan stressed that the wicket-taking value of Bumrah’s bowling is still crucial for Mumbai. He argued that the issue is tied to how often the slower ball is being selected and how frequently Bumrah is able to bowl at his higher pace.
“Wickets from Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling are very important,” Pathan said. He added that the numbers are showing what is happening, even if the form itself does not look fundamentally broken.
Pathan then questioned the strategy behind the current approach, calling for a deeper look at why the slower-ball percentage is so high. His view was that if Bumrah increases the proportion of fast deliveries and reduces the share of slower ones, results will follow.
Match impact: PBKS chase down 196
Bumrah appeared largely ineffective during Punjab Kings’ successful chase of a 196-run target in 16.3 overs. PBKS’ opener Prabhsimran Singh played the defining innings, smashing 80 not out off 39 balls to keep the chase under control.
Captain Shreyas Iyer added momentum with a quickfire 66 off 35 deliveries, helping Punjab Kings complete the job with plenty of time to spare. With Bumrah unable to make breakthroughs, Mumbai’s bowling effort could not slow the chase enough.
That defeat pushed MI to their fourth consecutive loss in IPL 2026. So far in the tournament, Mumbai have managed only a single win—coming in their campaign opener—while losing all the games that followed.
Pathan’s solution for Bumrah
Pathan’s closing assessment focused on what he believes would make Bumrah’s variations more threatening. He said that a 44% slower-ball usage and an average speed below 130 kmph indicates the need to increase pace and adjust the mix.
He explained that bowling more slower deliveries inevitably drags down average speed. Pathan then suggested bringing the slower-ball share down to around 35%, adding that keeping it in the 30–35% range while bowling more fast balls would make the slower ball more effective.
Finally, Pathan pointed to the importance of getting seam and swing as well, arguing that with better shape and a more balanced pace mix, Bumrah can start dismissing batters again—rather than staying stuck in the current wicketless stretch.
