Mumbai Indians are still searching for a steady bowling shape in IPL 2026, and head coach Mahela Jayawardene believes injuries and illnesses have forced them into an unsettled mix. The team has shown flashes of quality, but too often they have lacked rhythm across matches, leaving them with a record of two wins from seven games. That has put MI in the lower half of the points table, and with a five-day break now available, they will have a chance to reset and work on their execution.
Speaking after MI were thrashed by 103 runs by Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, Jayawardene pointed to gaps in their bowling plans and the inconsistency of results. He said that across the seven matches there has been a “hole” in their bowling, and that fresh faces have been introduced to cover for disruptions. He also noted that the win against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad appeared promising, but felt MI still managed to bowl effectively only in certain spells, rather than sustaining pressure throughout. In his view, the bigger issue has been how often they are allowing opponents to rack up heavy totals in the middle overs and beyond.
Jayawardene highlighted that MI have conceded at an economy rate of 10.52, the worst figure of any side in the tournament so far. He added that while MI have taken 34 wickets, that tally is the third-lowest in the league, and that even Jasprit Bumrah—usually the spearhead for regular breakthroughs—has managed only two wickets in seven outings. Bumrah may still be among the more economical bowlers in the group, but the numbers show that MI have not been getting enough wicket support to turn games in their favour.
That inconsistency has also shown up in how MI have used their personnel, even when they have tried to adjust for match-ups. At the start of the season, Trent Boult was MI’s preferred option with the new ball, but the lack of breakthroughs in the powerplay, combined with a high run rate, pushed the franchise to look elsewhere. As a result, MI have turned to Bumrah more often during the early overs—frequently asking him to bowl two powerplay spells rather than saving his impact for the back end. In their last two games, Bumrah has even bowled the opening over, a clear sign that MI are trying to regain control early.
“Yes, we are trying a few things,” Jayawardene said. He explained that MI felt they needed the experience of Bumrah upfront, because the team had not been setting a tone with the very first over. The goal, as he put it, was to pull the run rate back to the range of about 10, 12, or 13 instead of conceding more. MI have therefore experimented with their approach to ensure they start better and stay in games for longer.
Against CSK, the problem surfaced from the beginning in both departments. MI finished the powerplay at 73 for 2, while CSK reached 29 for 3 in reply, and the gap set the tone for the contest. MI also struggled to counter Akeal Hosein with the new ball in their chase of 208, and the chase never truly gained traction.
Jayawardene said that after a defeat of that nature, it is difficult to dissect every detail in a useful way, but he felt MI lost both powerplays—batting and bowling—and that made it hard to get back into the match. He acknowledged that the side looked to find rhythm in Ahmedabad, but said they were unable to replicate that consistency. He also argued that the pitch did not play badly against MI; instead, the scoreline itself became a trap. Once MI were 7 for 3, the batting side was always likely to be pulled back further, and CSK had the advantage from that stage. Still, he insisted MI must improve overall, move on from the heavy loss, and focus on repeating the good parts of their process more reliably.
There was also a talking point around player management during the CSK game. Mitchell Santner was allowed a concussion substitute after he was seen leaving the field while holding his shoulder. Santner had come in from sweeper cover to take a diving catch to dismiss Kartik Sharma, then walked off with discomfort. MI had already used an impact-player change earlier, bringing Danish Malewar in after substituting out AM Ghazanfar. However, once Santner was ruled out under concussion protocol, Shardul Thakur walked in to bat at No. 8 as the concussion substitute.
Jayawardene explained that Santner went for a scan after complaining of dizziness, and it was after that that MI approached the match referee to request a concussion substitute. He said Santner had first struck his head and also felt pain around the neck and shoulder. According to Jayawardene, Santner went for a scan because once he returned he felt dizzy and remained down for a period. He added that ice was applied for the shoulder, but MI still requested the protocol because Santner did not feel stable. Jayawardene stressed that approval for a concussion substitute ultimately sits with the match referee and umpires, acting on discretion.
“They allowed Shardul,” Jayawardene said. He noted that Santner’s replacement will be a disappointment for Mitch, given the batting opportunity is matched to Shardul Thakur’s role, but said the priority is player safety. He also expressed hope that the injury situation is not too serious.
In the gloom of a lopsided defeat, Jayawardene still found positives in Ghazanfar’s work. He praised the young bowler for returning figures of 2 for 25 even while CSK were scoring at better than ten runs per over. Ghazanfar was introduced during the powerplay, took a long-off catch to dismiss Ruturaj Gaikwad, and then bowled Shivam Dube in the ninth over.
Jayawardene said he believed Ghazanfar bowled well, describing him as young but already showing maturity beyond his age. He pointed to the way Ghazanfar thinks and the way he bowls, including his ability to handle the powerplay as well as later overs. The coach also added that MI’s spinners were effective in the match, calling Akeal’s spell a standout performance, and stressed that MI need to continue backing Allah to do what he does best.
MI will move on quickly to their next assignment, with a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium on April 29.
