Mumbai Indians Unfazed by Jasprit Bumrah’s Wicketless Start in IPL 2026
The Pressure Mounts at Wankhede
As the 2026 Indian Premier League season progresses, the Mumbai Indians find themselves in a precarious position. Currently sitting in eighth place on the points table, the franchise is facing scrutiny over its bowling department. While T20 cricket has seen scores inflate significantly over recent years, the defensive output from the Mumbai camp has been notably underwhelming. With the next two matches scheduled at the Wankhede Stadium—a venue historically unforgiving to bowlers—the pressure is mounting to find a winning formula.
The Bowling Struggle
The numbers paint a concerning picture for the five-time champions. Five of their key bowlers are currently conceding runs at an economy rate of at least 12.00. Even seasoned campaigners like Trent Boult, typically lethal in the powerplay, have struggled to make an impact. Boult has managed only two powerplay wickets in nine matches this year, while maintaining a high economy rate of 9.62. Similarly, Shardul Thakur, despite being the team’s top wicket-taker with four scalps, has leaked runs at 12.88 per over, functioning as a high-risk, high-reward option that has not always paid off.
Pollard Defends Bumrah
Amidst this collective struggle, the spotlight has fallen on Jasprit Bumrah, who is yet to register a wicket in the current campaign. However, Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard remains completely unbothered by the statistics. Speaking to the press on Saturday, Pollard dismissed the narrative surrounding Bumrah’s lack of wickets.
“When you look at T20 cricket now, the way that it’s going, you can’t really think much about wickets,” Pollard noted. “Sometimes the best form of attack is also defense. We’re not looking too much into the wicketless nature of Jasprit Bumrah. He’s a world-class bowler. When the time comes to get wickets, he’ll get wickets. If not, and he’s economical, we’ll accept that as well.”
Mindset Over Metrics
Pollard emphasized that the team views cricket as a collective endeavor rather than a game of individual milestones. “Cricket is a team sport. For us, it’s about coming together as one and trying to get the desired result at the end of the day. He is fine, he is fit, and he is firing,” Pollard added with a hint of humor, hoping to see a five-wicket haul from the pace spearhead in the upcoming clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Bumrah’s pace has been a point of observation, as he has clocked lower speeds than usual, often staying below the 140kph mark. Addressing this, Pollard highlighted the tactical necessity of variation in the current era of aggressive batting. “If the ball is going at 100 knots out of the ground, you don’t want to fight fire with fire. You have to try something different,” he explained.
Looking Ahead to RCB
The upcoming match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be a litmus test for the Mumbai bowling attack. Bumrah has historically performed well against RCB, claiming 29 wickets—the second-highest tally by any bowler against the Bengaluru side. However, with RCB boasting a lineup known for its attacking intent, the Wankhede surface will likely demand disciplined execution and clear communication from the bowlers.
As MI prepares for the challenge, the focus remains on working hard on execution and maintaining a strong team culture. The transition from practice to the match day involves a high level of mental fortitude. According to Pollard, the goal is to manage the flow of runs, keep the team competitive, and ultimately allow the hard work on the training ground to translate into fruitful results on the field.
