Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that while Jasprit Bumrah was bowling well early in IPL 2026, external narratives around his wicketless run may have briefly impacted his rhythm. According to Ashwin, the pressure of expectations and team results can sometimes creep into a player’s mindset, even for someone as experienced as Bumrah.

Mumbai Indians, however, silenced critics with a commanding all-round win over Gujarat Titans. After a shaky start that saw them reduced to 44/3 in the powerplay, MI recovered through a crucial partnership between Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma. Tilak went on to produce a stunning unbeaten 101 off just 45 balls, guiding MI to a strong total of 199/5.

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For the Gujarat Titans, Kagiso Rabada stood out with figures of 3/33, while Mohammed Siraj impressed with his control and economy. But the chase never gained momentum. GT collapsed for just 100 in under 16 overs, with MI’s bowlers dominating proceedings. Ashwani Kumar led the charge with a brilliant 4/24, supported well by Allah Ghazanfar and Mitchell Santner, who picked up two wickets each.

Reflecting on Bumrah’s form, Ravichandran Ashwin said: “I still think Bumrah bowled really well in the first two matches, but when the team started losing, the narrative changed. That might have played on his mind, but a wicket was always coming. We will see the best of him soon.”

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Ashwin also backed MI captain Hardik Pandya to rediscover his batting touch. “Hardik is yet to really open up with the bat,” he said. “It’s just one innings. Once he gets going, it will be difficult to stop him.”

With momentum back on their side, Mumbai Indians now look better balanced, and if their key players click consistently, they could quickly turn their campaign around in IPL 2026.