Jasprit Bumrah is going through an unusually quiet Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, with the MI spearhead managing just three wickets in 10 matches. Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes the problem lies not in effort, but in Bumrah trying to do too much and losing his natural rhythm.
The dip was evident again during Mumbai Indians’ win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede, where Bumrah went wicketless for the seventh time this season and conceded 45 runs. MI chased down 229 with ease, but Bumrah’s spell stood out for the wrong reasons, including a 21-run over and another no-ball that cost him a wicket.
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Speaking to Star Sports, Gavaskar pointed out where things are slipping for the fast bowler.
“Bumrah is giving his best, but he seems to be trying too many extra things. He is creating wicket-taking chances, but luck is not on his side. His pace has also dropped he is overdoing things, and that’s hurting him. He should go back to his basics and stick to what works best for him. Trying new things is affecting his rhythm and luck isn’t helping either.”
For a bowler known for control and clarity, this phase has been about small things going wrong repeatedly. The no-balls, the drift in line, the slight drop in pace, all adding up, even on nights when MI are winning comfortably.
WHAT IS GOING WRONG WITH BUMRAH IN IPL 2026?
Gavaskar’s explanation goes straight to the technical details behind Bumrah’s dip.
“His go-to slower ball length has become fuller. The line that used to target the stumps is now drifting to leg stump. He is not known for bowling many no-balls, but this season he has already bowled six or seven.”
That shift has been visible through the season. Bumrah has conceded 329 runs in 37 overs at an economy of 8.89, while using slower balls far more frequently than usual.
Even when he has created chances, things haven’t fallen his way. Against LSG, a breakthrough turned into a no-ball, and in another spell, control came but without wickets. It has been a season where the margins have consistently gone against him.
SHOULD MI GIVE SOME REST TO JASPRIT BUMRAH?
Former India batting coach and all-rounder Sanjay Bangar believes the solution may not be purely technical.
“We are in that space that the management can probably honestly sit and have a chat. Ask him: ‘are you feeling 100% from within’; ‘do you want to take a break for a game or so’,” Bangar said.
The suggestion comes from the idea that Bumrah might benefit from stepping away briefly, resetting physically and mentally, before returning sharper for the final stretch.
“And if he says ‘no, I am good to go, I will play’, you will probably see a better version of him, because he will try to push even more harder,” Bangar added.
For MI, it’s a delicate balance. They need Bumrah at his best, but right now, the bigger question is whether simplifying his approach, or even taking a short break, is the key to getting him back there.
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