R Ashwin has backed Jasprit Bumrah amid concerns around his recent wicket drought, arguing that the bigger value lies in how consistently he controls runs and delivers pressure overs. That point was tested again as Mumbai Indians slipped to an 18-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, despite Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 71 off 31 balls. Chasing 241, MI managed 222/5 in 20 overs, while Bumrah once more finished wicketless and now carries a run of five straight IPL matches without a scalp.
Key takeaways
- Bumrah stayed wicketless for the second time in a row as Mumbai Indians were beaten by Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 18 runs.
- MI’s chase of 241 ended at 222/5 in 20 overs, with Rutherford scoring 71* off 31 balls.
- Bumrah has not taken a wicket in his last five IPL matches, a streak that stretches back to last season’s second Qualifier.
- In that wicketless stretch, Bumrah has bowled 122 deliveries.
- Even without wickets, Bumrah has been Mumbai’s most effective bowler this season, including the best economy rate against RCB among MI pacers.
- MI’s bowling issues this campaign include low wicket numbers, poor overall economy, and a low dot-ball percentage.
Bumrah’s wicket drought: impact beyond wickets
The conversation around Bumrah’s form has revolved around his lack of wickets, but Ashwin’s view—and Bumrah’s own message—focuses on execution rather than just returns. Bumrah once again went wicketless versus RCB, extending his IPL run without a wicket to five matches. The streak began from the second Qualifier last year, and during it he has delivered 122 balls.
Despite the absence of wickets, Bumrah has been Mumbai’s standout bowler across the season. Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he recorded the best economy rate among MI bowlers—an indication that his role has been more about restricting scoring opportunities and forcing batters into mistakes rather than simply chasing wickets.
Bumrah also addressed the “lack of wickets” narrative directly, saying it can work against the team’s cause if it distracts from what needs to be prioritized. He stressed that nailing yorkers and squeezing the opposition for runs can be as crucial as taking wickets, particularly at venues like Wankhede where matchups and control matter.
He added that wicket-taking is often dependent on the overs around him. When a bowler cannot bowl continuously in rhythm, his ability to strike can be influenced by how well the other end and the support bowlers set up the contest—especially in a T20 format where bowling in partnerships becomes a defensive template for success. Bumrah referenced the value of that approach by pointing to how Lasith Malinga explained the importance of partnership bowling around the 10th over mark.
MI’s bowling support problems and season numbers
One major factor behind Bumrah’s wicketless spell, as the discussion goes, is the lack of consistent help from the rest of Mumbai’s bowling group. Trent Boult has managed only one wicket so far this season, and there is no MI bowler inside the top ten wicket-takers for the campaign. Mumbai have also taken just 14 wickets across four matches.
Run containment has been another concern. MI currently sit with the worst economy rate in the season and also feature the lowest dot-ball percentage. Those metrics help explain why even an economical spell from Bumrah may not always translate into wickets for the team.
Reflecting on MI’s broader struggles, captain Hardik Pandya recently admitted that the team has been “catching up” rather than setting the pace in both bowling and batting. He said they needed to reassess what they can do, find the right momentum, and deliver the “click” required to turn performances around. He also noted that they had a couple of days off before they would play again.
RCB match details and Bumrah’s recent IPL innings
In the match versus RCB, MI conceded 71 runs in the powerplay and 53 at the death—two phases that have contributed to their difficult results. The team’s death-bowling record is currently the second-worst in the season, underlining the challenge of defending totals when the batting side accelerates.
In terms of Bumrah’s personal figures over his last five IPL innings, he has recorded 0/35 (4), 0/32 (3), 0/21 (4), 0/35 (4), and 0/40 (4), reinforcing the nature of his wicket drought even as he continues to play a key role in limiting run flow for Mumbai Indians.
