In the IPL, where reputations can shift in a matter of overs, even Jasprit Bumrah is not immune to the occasional rough night. At the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, the Mumbai Indians’ pace leader looked uncharacteristically off-colour as Sunrisers Hyderabad tore into him during their run chase. Bumrah, who has long been the benchmark for death bowling in the league, finished with rare figures of 0/54 in four overs, a spell that immediately became one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026.
Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard was quick to defend his senior teammate after the match, calling for balance in the way such performances are judged. His message was simple: Bumrah, like every cricketer, is human too. In a tournament as unforgiving as the IPL, one poor outing often invites outsized scrutiny, but Pollard urged everyone to remember the body of work that Bumrah has delivered over the years.
Mumbai had entered the contest knowing they needed their spearhead to help shut the door early after posting a massive 243/5. Instead, the SRH openers came out with intent and took the attack to Bumrah from the start. Abhishek Sharma struck him cleanly in the Powerplay, and by the end of Bumrah’s second over, the damage had already mounted. Sunrisers’ opening stand of 92 runs left MI chasing the game far too early.
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The pressure did not ease later in the innings either. Bumrah, usually so precise at the death, could not nail his lengths or force the control he is known for. Heinrich Klaasen punished him with a towering six in the 14th over, and even youngster Salil Arora managed to clear the ropes off him later in the chase. It was the kind of outing that suggested rhythm, confidence and execution were all slightly out of sync.
For the season, the numbers make for uncomfortable reading. In eight matches, Bumrah has taken just two wickets, with an average of 132 and an economy rate of 8.80. Those are far removed from the standards he has set for himself over the years, especially since he has consistently taken 15 or more wickets in almost every IPL season since 2016.
Bumrah will bounce back to greater heights, says Pollard as MI struggles continue
Mumbai Indians coach Kieron Pollard backs Jasprit Bumrah to bounce back despite two wickets in eight IPL 2026 matches. MI seeks turnaround after falling to lower half of t…… pic.twitter.com/2NjnF2WZvt
— NationPress (@np_nationpress) April 30, 2026
The dip is even more surprising given his excellent recent form on the international stage. Bumrah was a central figure in India’s T20 World Cup triumph, including a decisive four-wicket burst against New Zealand. Whether the current slowdown is the result of workload, fatigue, or simply one of those phases every fast bowler goes through, the spark is not quite there right now.
Keiron Pollard’s defence of Bumrah was as much about perspective as it was about loyalty. “Again, when a cricketer is not doing well, we look at every single aspect as to why he’s not doing well. And there’s no difference with Jasprit Bumrah, all right? He has done this for years. As a human being, he’s entitled as well to make mistakes, to not have a good day, not have a good season, not have a good couple of months. And I just feel that we need to sometimes remember the good things that he has done.”
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He also pointed out how exposed cricketers become when the results go against them.
“Yes, we try to live in the present, and he hasn’t been up to the mark. But he’s still been the number one bowler for the Mumbai Indians and India over a period of time. So I just feel that sometimes we can cut some slack to us cricketers, because, as I always say, we are unfortunate to always be in the public eye.”
Pollard added a final reminder that the game gives players very little room to hide.
“When normal people have jobs, and they send the wrong email, they have the opportunity to edit the words and all these things. We don’t have that opportunity. So it’s fair and fine — when you’re not doing well, you accept certain things. And knowing the individual, I know he’s going to bounce back to greater heights and take wickets.”
Mumbai will now hope that prediction comes true quickly, with a high-pressure clash against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Saturday, May 2. For Bumrah, it is another chance to reset, respond, and remind everyone why he remains one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket.
