Jaspreet Bumrah He is considered among the best bowlers in the world today, but it is surprising to see that his average is currently the worst in this IPL season. Bumrah went wicketless in his first five matches and picked up his first wicket in the sixth match against Gujarat Titans, dismissing Sai Sudharsan on the very first ball of the game.Bumrah had struggled before this match, going wicketless. Mumbai IndiansFirst five matches against Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings. His wicket of Sudharsan, who was dismissed for a golden duck, helped set the tone for Mumbai Indians’ victory, as Gujarat Titans suffered a heavy 99-run defeat.Bumrah has historically dominated some of the biggest T20 batsmen. He had never hit a six in front of players like Travis Head and Sanju Samson, but during this tough phase of IPL 2026, both managed to hit them. Young prodigy Vibhu Suryavanshi also took over, hitting two sixes in the same over. This shows that Bumrah is going through a weak patch at the moment.Bumrah’s current IPL bowling average is 132, the worst of his T20 career. Compared to other bowlers who bowled 30 or more overs this season, he averaged almost double that, making him one of the lowest-performing bowlers for Mumbai Indians. This lack of form could be one of the reasons why Mumbai Indians have struggled to keep pace.Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was only the second time in IPL history that Mumbai Indians failed to defend a total of 200 or more, and the first time at the Wankhede Stadium. In that match, Bumrah conceded 54 runs in his four overs, with sixes from Travis Head, Henrik Klaasen and Salil Arora. It’s rare to see Bumrah hitting so many sixes, especially in situations where his team relies on him the most.
What is behind Jasprit Bumrah’s struggle?
Bumrah enters IPL 2026 after an intense and packed international schedule that includes the Asia Cup, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, series against Australia and South Africa, and a five-match Test series in England. During this tour of England alone, he bowled 119 overs in three matches, despite a long-standing back problem.Cricket experts have identified several possible reasons for his decline in form. Some believe that Bumrah may not have had adequate rest after sustained international cricket, while others believe that he has struggled to find his usual rhythm and length.Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikanth was blunt in his assessment after Bumrah’s dismissal against Sunrisers Hyderabad:“Bumrah is not getting that zip at all. Not a single delivery looked threatening. Maybe he is tired, so I am not blaming him. But clearly he is not at his best. He is trying so hard but looks so ordinary. His statement said that Bumrah can get tired after a busy schedule.On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted the mental side of the game. During Bumrah’s wicketless run in the first five matches, Ashwin suggested that external narratives and pressure had affected his rhythm.“I still think Bumrah bowled really well in the first two matches, but then the team started losing. Then this narrative also started that Bumrah was not getting wickets. It was probably playing in his mind,” Ashwin said, adding that Bumrah’s best could still be around the corner.Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif also weighed in, suggesting that Bumrah’s body is not fully supporting him at the moment and that a short break could help him regain peak fitness.Meanwhile, Kieron PollardMumbai Indians’ batting coach downplayed concerns over Bumrah’s form. He emphasized that the fast bowler is human and it is natural to dip at times, urging people to remember his immense contribution to the team over the years.Here is a look at the bowling averages of players who bowled 30 or more overs this season along with their averages and economy rates:-
| Bowler | Overs | runs | Wickets | Average | The economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaspreet Bumrah | 30 | 264 | 2 | 132.00 | 8.80 |
| Arsdeep Singh | 30 | 329 | 8 | 41.12 | 10.96 |
| Muhammad Shami | 31 | 250 | 7 | 35.71 | 8.06 |
| Muhammad Siraj | 33 | 268 | 9 | 29.77 | 8.12 |
| Rashid Khan | 33 | 274 | 10 | 27.40 | 8.30 |
| Kagiso Rabada. | 35 | 338 | 14 | 24.14 | 9.65 |
| Jofra Archer | 33 | 274 | 14 | 19.50 | 8.27 |
| Ishan Malanga | 31 | 284 | 15 | 18.93 | 9.16 |
| Prince Yadav | 30 | 242 | 13 | 18.61 | 8.06 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 35 | 264 | 17 | 15.52 | 7.54 |
In contrast, during IPL 2025, Bumrah led the bowling attack of Mumbai Indians with a brilliant season, taking 18 wickets in 12 matches. Despite missing the first four games due to a back injury, he came back strongly and delivered the best season in the league among bowlers with more than 10 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 6.68 by many analysts.Prior to the IPL, Bumrah was a key figure in India’s national cricket team’s successful title defense at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 8 matches. His campaign culminated in the final on 8 March 2026, where he was named player of the match for his impressive 4/15 against the New Zealand national cricket team. Earlier in the match against England at the Wankhede Stadium, he crossed the milestone of 500 international wickets by dismissing Harry Brooke on the first ball.
