Jasprit Bumrah is navigating a rare dip in IPL form, a situation that feels unusual for a bowler who has set the benchmark for accuracy and pressure in T20 cricket. After the momentum of his T20 World Cup success, the Mumbai Indians spearhead has struggled to reproduce the impact fans associate with him. Through eight IPL appearances, he has taken only two wickets, and the sharp edge that typically frustrates batters has not been showing up often.
Part of the concern is that opponents look less tentative against him than they have in the past. Batters who previously attacked with caution now appear more willing to test his lengths, signalling a shift in how teams are approaching his spells. His economy rate of 8.80 is not disastrous on paper, but it is below the standards Bumrah has routinely delivered across seasons.
Quick facts
- Jasprit Bumrah has taken 2 wickets in 8 IPL matches this season.
- His economy rate in the tournament is 8.80.
- He was wicketless against SRH on Wednesday, conceding 54 runs in his four overs.
- 54 runs in a four-over spell was the highest by any bowler in that match.
- Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard backed Bumrah after the loss.
Bumrah’s latest setback came in another wicketless outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. He finished with figures of 0 wickets for 54 runs from his four overs, a particularly damaging stat line because it was the most runs any bowler conceded in the match. The result intensified questions around his current rhythm and effectiveness.
Pollard urges a balanced view
With Bumrah under the spotlight, Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard defended the pacer and asked for perspective. Speaking at a press conference following the defeat to SRH, Pollard stressed that when elite players go through rough patches, every detail gets dissected, even though dips can happen in any profession. He pointed out that Bumrah has built a long track record of delivering at the highest level for both franchise and country.
Pollard said the team examines all possible reasons when a cricketer is not performing, and noted that this is no different for Bumrah. He also framed the situation as part of the natural ups and downs of sport, adding that a player is still human—capable of having off days, stretches of poor form, and periods that do not match their usual output. In his view, focusing only on the present ignores the larger body of work that has made Bumrah a top-tier performer.
He further discussed the unique pressure elite athletes face, arguing that failures are amplified in public view. Pollard compared it with everyday work situations, where mistakes can be corrected quietly or treated as minor errors. In cricket, however, performance swings are watched closely and highlighted immediately, leaving little room to absorb a slump without scrutiny.
Pollard’s message was clear: while results matter, fans and critics should allow Bumrah some space as he works through his current phase. He reiterated that the pacer’s past dominance for Mumbai Indians and India should not be forgotten just because this season has not started the way anyone expected.
Confidence of a comeback
Pollard ended on an optimistic note, predicting that Bumrah will recover and return to his wicket-taking ways. He expressed confidence that the bowler would bounce back “with greater heights,” suggesting the same rhythm and impact that made him a household name will eventually return.
He called on supporters to give Bumrah a little slack and let the process play out, insisting that the team and fans will once again be celebrating Bumrah’s performances for Mumbai Indians as well as India. For now, the focus remains on whether this form slump can be short-lived and whether Bumrah can quickly reclaim the threat he usually carries into every over.
