Veteran India quick Umesh Yadav has pointed to a sharp contrast between Jasprit Bumrah’s approach and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s fundamentals in this IPL season, suggesting the Mumbai Indians pacer is experimenting too much while the Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer has stuck to a clear, repeatable plan. In the same conversation, Umesh also linked Lucknow Super Giants’ problems to Rishabh Pant’s recent form and questioned whether the franchise has managed its batting unit and combinations with enough stability.
Umesh’s take on Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar
Umesh believes Bhuvneshwar’s success stems from disciplined execution across phases of the innings, particularly during the early overs and the late stages where games are often decided. He also highlighted that the ability to move the ball both ways has been central to Bhuvneshwar’s impact.
- Umesh said Bhuvneshwar’s planning is “clear”, with roles defined for the Powerplay and death overs.
- He added that Bhuvneshwar can swing the ball effectively in both directions.
- Umesh contrasted that with Bumrah, arguing the Mumbai pacer has been trying “a lot of things”, which has contributed to inconsistency.
Those comments align with the wicket numbers being cited in the discussion. Bhuvneshwar is currently the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, having taken 17 wickets across nine matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Bumrah, meanwhile, has found it tougher this season, claiming only three wickets from 10 games for Mumbai Indians.
- Bhuvneshwar: 17 wickets in nine appearances for RCB.
- Bumrah: 3 wickets in 10 games for MI.
Umesh further explained that Bumrah’s rhythm has been disrupted by how the captaincy has used him. He suggested the seamer is not receiving the same type of match situations consistently, with some overs coming in the Powerplay while other spells are assigned when the pressure is not as high. According to Umesh, that fluctuation affects a fast bowler’s ability to build momentum and attack.
He also argued that Mumbai should give Bumrah clearer chances to go after wickets rather than placing him in roles that reduce his attacking opportunities.
Why Umesh says Lucknow have struggled
Turning to Lucknow Super Giants, Umesh said Rishabh Pant’s form has been a major reason the franchise has paid dearly. He also pointed to issues in team execution, noting that Lucknow have not been able to settle on the right fielding combinations.
Umesh stressed that Pant’s batting decisions and leadership responsibilities matter, and he implied that the team’s overall performance has dipped over the last couple of years. He contrasted this season with the previous one, describing Lucknow’s batting as up and down rather than consistently strong.
- Umesh said Pant must make decisions with the responsibility that comes with his role.
- He suggested performance levels for Pant and the team have been below par over the last two years.
- He noted that this year the batting fluctuates, unlike the more consistent pattern seen last season.
- He added that the combination has not been settling.
To underline the batting concern, Umesh referenced that Pant’s form has not been good and that Nicholas Pooran has managed to score only in the most recent match. He concluded that the larger issue is not just one batter, but the need for everyone to contribute together in T20 cricket.
Umesh also raised a structural point about Lucknow’s batting order, saying it has not been steady and that the team appears to be constantly “searching” for solutions. He argued that the order should not be altered every match and that the franchise needs to sit down and communicate clearly with the batters to build belief and continuity.
Play-off contenders, as per Umesh
When asked for his outlook on the play-offs, Umesh named Punjab, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan and Sunrisers Hyderabad as likely contenders for the top four.
