Virender Sehwag found himself at the centre of a social media storm after a slip of the tongue during an IPL 2026 discussion. The former India opener, speaking on Cricbuzz ahead of the Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings clash, was analysing the Mumbai bowling unit when he mistakenly referred to Jasprit Bumrah as “Chumrah”. Sehwag moved quickly to correct himself, but the clip of the moment spread widely online, sparking a wave of mockery and criticism from fans who took the error personally.
Reactions were swift across platforms, with users debating whether it was a genuine mistake or a playful jab. One post on X (formerly Twitter) captured the outrage in a sarcastic tone: “Why does Sehwag hate Bumrah so much?” The viral nature of the video ensured the misnaming stayed in circulation, with multiple users sharing the exchange and turning it into a trending topic on May 14, 2026.
While Sehwag’s accidental reference dominated timelines, Bumrah continued to build momentum in the background. The Indian speedster held top spot among Test bowlers in the most recent ICC rankings released on Wednesday, reinforcing his status as one of the format’s most influential strike options.
In the batting standings, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were placed eighth and ninth respectively. The batting chart was led by England Test captain Joe Root, who remained at the summit with 880 points. Jaiswal was on 750 points, while Gill—after moving up one position—had 730 points. Behind Root, the next places were taken by Harry Brook in second, followed by Travis Head and Steve Smith in their respective rankings.
It is also worth noting that India have not yet played any World Test Championship matches in 2026. Their most recent WTC outing came at home against South Africa in November, meaning the new cycle will have further matches to shape the standings as the year progresses.
On the bowlers’ list, Bumrah maintained first place with 879 points, while the leading Indian pursuer was Mohammed Siraj in 12th. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav were positioned 14th and 15th, respectively. Outside the subcontinent, Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Test captain Pat Cummins both climbed—Starc moved into second place, while Cummins jumped to fourth—while New Zealand’s Matt Henry also leapfrogged to third.
