Jasprit Bumrah Struggles in IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians Admit Star Bowler 'Hasn't Been Up to Mark'

Mumbai Indians have publicly acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah’s below-par IPL 2026 campaign after the star pacer endured another difficult outing in the team’s defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bumrah conceded 54 runs in his four overs as Mumbai lost despite posting a formidable total. The result further damaged the franchise’s playoff hopes in a season marked by inconsistency and underperformance. Bumrah’s struggles have mirrored the team’s disappointing run in the tournament so far.

Across eight matches this season, Bumrah has taken only two wickets from 180 deliveries, giving him a strike rate of 90. His economy rate has risen to 8.80, the first time since 2015 that it has crossed eight runs per over in an IPL season. While those figures may remain respectable for many bowlers, they fall short of the elite standards Bumrah has established through years of dominance for both Mumbai Indians and India.

Following the loss, Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard defended the fast bowler while admitting the dip in form. Pollard said the team analyses every player when performances decline, and Bumrah is no exception. He added that the pacer remains one of the finest bowlers in the game despite not being at his usual level this season. Pollard also stressed that even top athletes can go through lean phases.

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Pollard urged observers to remember Bumrah’s long record of excellence rather than judge him solely on current numbers. He said players are human and can experience poor days, difficult months, or challenging seasons. The coach’s comments reflected both support for Bumrah and recognition that Mumbai’s campaign has been hurt by the lack of breakthroughs from their strike bowler, especially in pressure moments.

Mumbai Indians have now lost six of their first eight matches, leaving them in a difficult position in the race for the playoffs. Pollard admitted the side has failed to deliver complete performances with bat and ball together. He said the squad has not been consistent enough and must improve collectively rather than depend on isolated individual contributions to turn results around.

Despite the setbacks, Pollard insisted the dressing room has not given up on qualification. With six league matches remaining, Mumbai can still reach 16 points if they win all remaining fixtures, a tally that often keeps teams in contention for the knockout stage. He said the players remain determined to fight until the end and are focused on finding solutions quickly as the tournament enters a decisive phase.

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