Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has pointed to growing fatigue among several senior Indian bowlers, saying the effects of a relentless schedule are clearly showing in IPL 2026. Speaking during the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings clash, Shastri suggested that repeated workloads across formats are beginning to affect even the most established names.

His comments come at a time when Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have both endured uneven IPL campaigns. Bumrah, in particular, has struggled to make his usual impact for the Mumbai Indians, taking just three wickets in 10 matches. Arshdeep, meanwhile, has shown flashes of quality for Punjab Kings but has not quite delivered the level of consistency expected from him, especially in pressure overs at the death.

Bumrah’s workload has been under close watch ever since his return from back trouble, with India carefully managing his appearances across formats. With a packed 2025-26 calendar and heavy red-ball demands leading into the T20 World Cup and IPL 2026, workload management has become a major talking point around India’s pace attack.

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Arshdeep continues to remain an important left-arm option in India’s white-ball plans, but his IPL form has not always matched his reputation. While he has produced impactful spells, his overall rhythm has been disrupted by inconsistency, which has stood out in close matches.

“Just seeing the way the season has panned out and seeing some of the established bowlers who have played a lot of cricket through the season, played for India, played World Cups, all this stuff… showing signs of mental fatigue,” Ravi Shastri said on commentary.

He was particularly referring to Bumrah, whose lower wicket tally has been a surprise given his proven quality and long-standing value to both the Mumbai Indians and India.

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“Now, you must remember these guys are human. And it does take its toll,” Ravi Shastri added. “It isn’t that they can, on a day off, go to a petrol station, fill some gas and get into the groove again the next day.” Shastri’s remarks underline a growing reality in modern cricket: elite bowlers are being pushed harder than ever, and fatigue is becoming impossible to ignore.