Jasprit Bumrah is known as one of the finest bowlers in world cricket today. However, the IPL 2026 season has brought a surprising turn of events. The Mumbai Indians pacer is currently struggling with his worst bowling average in professional T20 cricket, leaving many cricket watchers puzzled.
The numbers tell a story that fans are not used to seeing. Bumrah’s bowling average in this IPL season stands at 132, which is not just poor by his standards but also the worst among all bowlers who have bowled 30 or more overs this season. For a player who has built his reputation on being reliable and effective, this represents a significant departure from his usual form.
A Slow Start to the Season
The struggle began right from the first match. Bumrah went through five complete games without taking a single wicket. For any bowler, going wicketless is frustrating, but for someone of Bumrah’s quality, this kind of dry spell is almost unheard of.
In Mumbai Indians’ opening matches against Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings, Bumrah could not find a breakthrough. Match after match, he bowled his quota of overs but returned without a wicket to show for his efforts.
The drought finally ended in the sixth match against Gujarat Titans. Bumrah’s first wicket of the season came on the very first ball he bowled in that game when he dismissed Sai Sudharsan for a golden duck. The wicket helped set the right tone for Mumbai Indians, who went on to secure a massive 99-run victory over the Titans.
While getting that first wicket must have brought some relief, it came after a long wait and did little to change the overall picture of his season. The fact that it took six matches to open his account shows just how different this season has been for the Indian fast bowler.
Being Hit by Unlikely Batters
What makes this rough patch even more unusual is that batters who had never managed to score sixes off Bumrah in the past have now succeeded in doing so. Throughout his career, Bumrah has had complete control over some of the most dangerous T20 batters in the world.
Travis Head, the explosive Australian opener, had never hit a six off Bumrah before this season. That record came to an end in IPL 2026. Similarly, Sanju Samson, one of India’s most talented batters, had also never cleared the boundary for a six against Bumrah. This season, he too managed to break that pattern.
Perhaps the most surprising incident involved Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a young and relatively inexperienced player. The teenager took on Bumrah with confidence and smashed him for two sixes in a single over. For a bowler who has handled the world’s best batters with ease, getting hit by a youngster in such a manner highlights how things have not gone according to plan.
These instances are not just statistical anomalies. They represent a shift in how batters are approaching Bumrah this season. When even younger players feel confident enough to attack him, it suggests that something is missing from his usual threatening presence.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
A closer look at the statistics reveals the full extent of Bumrah’s struggles. His bowling average of 132 is not just bad, it is historically poor for someone of his caliber. To put this in context, his average is nearly double that of other bowlers who have bowled a similar number of overs this season.
Among bowlers with 30 or more overs bowled, Bumrah sits at the bottom of the list. The comparison table shows a stark difference between him and other leading bowlers:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the pack with an average of 15.52, having taken 17 wickets in 35 overs. Prince Yadav and Eshan Malinga have averages around 18-19, while international stars like Jofra Archer average 19.50. Even bowlers who have not had great seasons are averaging in the 20s and 30s.
Bumrah’s 132 average stands alone at the wrong end of the spectrum. With only 2 wickets from 30 overs and 264 runs conceded, the numbers paint a clear picture of a bowler who has lost his usual effectiveness.
His economy rate of 8.80 is also concerning, though not as alarming as the average. Other bowlers like Arshdeep Singh have higher economy rates but better averages because they take more wickets. The problem for Bumrah is not just that he is going for runs, but that he is not getting wickets to compensate.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad Game
One match that particularly highlighted Bumrah’s struggles was the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai Indians posted a total above 200 runs, which is usually considered a safe score in T20 cricket. However, they failed to defend it.
This was only the second time in IPL history that Mumbai Indians could not defend a total of 200 or more. More significantly, it was the first time this happened at their home ground in Wankhede, where they have traditionally been strong.
Bumrah’s contribution to the defense was disappointing. He conceded 54 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket. The batters who took him apart included Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Salil Arora, all of whom hit him for sixes.
Seeing Bumrah leak so many runs, especially in a high-pressure situation where his team needed him most, was unusual. These are the exact scenarios where he has typically shined in the past, delivering match-winning spells when the game is on the line.
The fact that he could not stem the flow of runs or pick up crucial wickets shows that this is not just a minor blip but a genuine struggle with form.
The Workload Question
One major factor that experts have pointed to is Bumrah’s workload before the IPL began. He came into the tournament after an extremely busy period of international cricket.
His schedule included the Asia Cup, followed by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After the World Cup, there were series against Australia and South Africa. Then came a demanding five-match Test series in England.
The England tour was particularly taxing. Bumrah bowled 119 overs across just three Test matches. This is a huge workload for any fast bowler, but especially for someone like Bumrah who was managing a long-standing back issue during that series.
Fast bowling is physically demanding. The body needs time to recover between intense periods of play. When bowlers go from one series to another without adequate rest, it can affect their performance. The body may not have the same zip and energy, and small technical issues can creep in.
For Bumrah, who relies on his unique action and precise control, even small changes in his physical condition can have big effects on his bowling. If his body is tired or not functioning at peak capacity, the small margins that make him special can disappear.
Finally, it is possible that some batters have started reading Bumrah better. As players face him more often, they may have developed strategies to counter his variations. This could explain why even younger batters like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi felt confident attacking him.
Context from Recent Success
The current struggles stand in sharp contrast to Bumrah’s recent performances. Looking at his achievements before this IPL season makes the current dip even more surprising.
In IPL 2025, Bumrah was exceptional for Mumbai Indians. Despite missing the first four matches due to a back injury, he returned and delivered what many considered his most economical season ever. He took 18 wickets in 12 matches and maintained an economy rate of 6.68, which was the best in the league among bowlers with more than 10 wickets.
That season showed Bumrah at his best, controlling the game and taking wickets when needed. The contrast with his current average of 132 and economy of 8.80 could not be more stark.
Just before the IPL, Bumrah was also crucial in India’s successful title defense at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 8 matches. His performances throughout the tournament were outstanding.
The final on March 8, 2026, saw Bumrah at his peak. He was named Player of the Match for his brilliant figures of 4/15 against New Zealand. Those numbers are a reminder of what Bumrah is capable of when everything clicks.
Earlier in that World Cup, during a match against England at Wankhede Stadium, Bumrah reached a major milestone. He took his 500th international wicket by dismissing Harry Brook with the very first ball of his spell. This achievement placed him among the elite group of Indian bowlers to reach this mark.
These recent successes make the current IPL struggles even harder to understand. A bowler does not suddenly forget how to bowl. However, a combination of physical tiredness, mental pressure, and perhaps some bad luck can create a perfect storm of poor performances.
A Temporary Phase or Something More?
The key question is whether this is just a temporary rough patch or indicates something more serious. Most experts seem to believe it is the former.
Ashwin’s comment that the best of Bumrah could be around the corner suggests optimism. Pollard’s reminder that all players go through ups and downs indicates that this is being viewed as a natural fluctuation rather than a permanent decline.
The fact that physical fatigue and workload are being cited as major factors is actually encouraging. These are issues that can be addressed with rest and proper management. If Bumrah is simply tired, then time off and recovery could bring him back to his best.
On the other hand, if there are deeper technical issues or if the back problem is more serious than publicly acknowledged, the recovery could take longer. However, there is no indication that these are the primary concerns.
The post Jasprit Bumrah’s Rare Struggle in IPL 2026: Breaking Down His Worst Season appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
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