Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has backed Jasprit Bumrah despite his wicketless run in IPL 2026, but admitted that the bowling unit has struggled collectively after their defeat to Punjab Kings.
Mumbai slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat after going down to Punjab Kings at the Wankhede on April 16, with their bowling unit once again failing to defend a competitive total.
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“We’re finding some spark in certain areas, but in others, especially with the ball, we haven’t been able to penetrate opposition. That’s something we really need to work on and improve,” Jayawardene said at the post-match press conference.
“Boom is bowling well, but we’re not putting enough pressure in the powerplay. Opposition batters know they don’t need to take too many risks against him,” he added.
“I can’t point a finger and say he hasn’t taken wickets, so that’s the issue. As a unit, we’ve lacked penetration across different surfaces, and that’s something we need to address,” Jayawardene said.
WHY HAS BUMRAH BEEN WICKETLESS IN IPL 2026?
Jayawardene pointed out that Bumrah’s wicketless run is not down to poor form alone, but a mix of factors including fitness management and match situations.
“I think initially he had a slight niggle that carried over from the World Cup. We wanted to build him up. Over the last few games, his speeds have gone up, and we’ve monitored that closely, so he’s very comfortable now,” he explained.
“Sometimes you need a bit of luck as well. He bowled some really good deliveries upfront, he just wasn’t lucky enough. Once he starts taking wickets, it might be difficult to stop him. We just need to back him,” Jayawardene added.
“He’s not the only bowler in our attack. We’ve got other quality bowlers, but we need to come together as a group,” he said, stressing the need for collective improvement.
MI’S POOR BOWLING FORM
Mumbai Indians’ struggles with the ball have been evident throughout IPL 2026.
They have conceded 972 runs in just five matches, including multiple 220-plus totals at home, highlighting a lack of control across phases. Their economy rate of 10.26 is among the worst this season, while the bowling average of 30.86 reflects the inability to pick up wickets regularly.
The lack of support around Bumrah, coupled with inconsistent performances from both pacers and spinners, has left MI exposed, particularly in the middle overs.
HOW PBKS THRASHED MI
Punjab Kings capitalised on Mumbai’s bowling issues with a dominant chase.
After MI posted 195, riding on a century from Quinton de Kock and a fifty from Naman Dhir, PBKS responded aggressively.
Prabhsimran Singh smashed an unbeaten 80, while Shreyas Iyer added 66, as the pair stitched a 139-run stand to take the game away.
Earlier, Arshdeep Singh’s three wickets helped keep MI in check.
PBKS chased down the target in just 16.3 overs, sealing a seven-wicket win and exposing Mumbai’s ongoing bowling struggles.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
