Jasprit Bumrah’s IPL 2026 numbers so far read like a reminder of how high the bar is for him: eight matches, 180 deliveries, only two wickets, and a strike rate of 90. For a bowler who has spent years setting near-impossible targets with his control and impact, this season has been a noticeable struggle. Mumbai Indians’ overall rhythm has often moved in step with Bumrah’s accuracy, but this time both have had to deal with rough patches that refuse to disappear.
One of the clearest indicators of Bumrah’s dip is his economy rate. It has crossed the eight-run mark for the first time since 2015, standing at 8.80 in the competition so far. While that might look tolerable in isolation for many bowlers, it is not where Bumrah usually lives. More than the numbers, the bigger issue is wicket-taking—Bumrah’s lack of breakthroughs has been costing MI valuable momentum in matches.
MI’s batting coach Kieron Pollard addressed the situation openly after the team’s latest defeat, a loss to SRH. In the post-match press conference, he said the coaching staff and the squad look at every possible angle when a player is not performing. Pollard also struck a balanced note about the human side of sport, stressing that even elite cricketers have off stretches. He added that while the present period may not be where Bumrah would want it to be, he has still been a top-tier bowler for Mumbai Indians and India over the years.
Pollard further acknowledged that MI have not been able to piece together a “complete game of cricket” so far. Even so, he insisted that the dressing room is still willing to fight and has not mentally written the season off, despite already losing six of their eight matches. With six games remaining, MI still have a pathway to a maximum of 16 points, provided they respond with a winning run starting from their next fixture.
He admitted the inconsistency has been visible and unavoidable in the results. Pollard said the team, as a unit, has not been good enough and needs to raise its collective execution across different phases of the game. In his view, chasing “complete” performances is the key—because winning matches requires more than just moments of pressure or bursts of brilliance. He also pointed out that, despite the setbacks, the desire to compete remains strong within the squad.
Pollard ended by drawing a distinction between losses and elimination. He noted that MI have accepted defeat in the sense of acknowledging results, but they have not accepted the idea that the tournament journey is over. He emphasised that mathematically and from a points perspective, they are still very much in the mix, and the team is still looking forward to what it can achieve as the season progresses.
