Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has backed Jasprit Bumrah despite his wicketless run in IPL 2026, but admitted the bowling unit struggled collectively after the defeat to Punjab Kings.
Mumbai slumped to their fourth straight defeat after going down to Punjab Kings at the Wankhede on 16 April, with their bowling unit once again unable to defend a competitive total.
IPL 2026, MI vs PBKS: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
“We’re finding some spark in certain areas but in others, especially with the ball, we haven’t been able to penetrate the opposition. That’s something we really need to work on and improve on,” Jayawardene told the post-match press conference.
“Boom is playing well, but we’re not putting enough pressure in the power bowl. The opposition batsmen know they don’t have to take too many risks against him,” he added.
“I can’t point the finger and say he didn’t take wickets so that’s the problem. As a unit we lacked penetration across different surfaces and that’s something we need to address,” Jayawardene said.
WHY WAS BUMRAH WICKETLESS IN IPL 2026?
Jayawardene pointed this out Bumrah’s wicketless run is not just about poor form, but a mixture of factors including fitness management and match situations.
“I think he had a bit of a problem at the start that carried over from the World Cup. We wanted to build him up. In the last few games his speed has increased and we’ve been keeping a close eye on it, so he’s very comfortable now,” he explained.
“Sometimes you need a bit of luck. He bowled some really good deliveries upfront, he just wasn’t lucky enough. Once he starts taking wickets, he can be hard to stop. We just have to back him,” added Jayawardene.
“He’s not the only pitcher in our offense. We have other quality pitchers, but we have to come together as a group,” he said, stressing the need for collective improvement.
MY BOWLING FORM IS BAD
Mumbai Indians’ struggles with the ball have been evident throughout IPL 2026.
They have conceded 972 runs in just five matches, including a total of over 220 at home, showing a lack of control across the phases. Their economy rate of 10.26 is among the worst this season, while a bowling average of 30.86 reflects an inability to pick up wickets regularly.
The lack of support around Bumrah, along with inconsistent performances from both the pacers and spinners, left MI exposed, especially in the middle overs.
HOW PBKS SLAPPED ME
Punjab Kings cashed in on Mumbai’s bowling woes with a dominant chase.
After MI posted 195, riding on the table 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 victory by seven wickets and exposing Mumbai’s ongoing bowling struggles.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
17 Apr 2026 10:07 IST
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