For Mumbai Indians fans, IPL 2026 has been tough to watch so far. After starting the season with a strong win against KKR, the five-time champions have struggled to build momentum. They have now slipped into a rough patch with four straight defeats, making it difficult for them to find rhythm in the tournament. While the majority of conversation has been around what happened to Mumbai Indians has centred on their inability to deal with pressure across different phases.
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Jasprit Bumrah’s Rare Dip
However, what has made this phase even more difficult to digest is the rare dip in form of their premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. Known for his ability to deliver breakthroughs at crucial moments, Bumrah has gone wicketless in his first five matches this season a statistic almost unheard of in his IPL career. This ongoing Jasprit Bumrah’s IPL wicketless streak has become a major talking point across the tournament. For a team already struggling to find rhythm, the absence of Bumrah’s wicket-taking edge has only deepened the crisis, further intensifying debates around What happened to Mumbai Indians.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Form：Numbers That Raise Concerns
A closer look at Bumrah’s numbers this season reveals why his performances have come under scrutiny. Conversations around Jasprit Bumrah’s form have only grown louder with each passing game. He has played in five games, delivering 19 overs, giving away 164 runs while having an economy rate of about 8.6.
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This rate is not concerning at all in today’s world of T20 cricket. However, the fact that he has not taken any wickets so far makes his performance worrying. His key asset has always been the pressure game he plays through dots and wicket-taking. This year, there has not been any such conversion. The reason seems to be his reduced pace on average, which has remained around 130 kmph. This has led to another issue in Jasprit Bumrah’s performance and raised technical concerns.
Would you believe it? 😯
Jasprit Bumrah is yet to pick up a wicket in IPL 2026 after the first 5 matches! 🥲👀
Is this the reason why MI are struggling with their bowling unit? 🤔#IPL2026 #MI #JaspritBumrah #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/TvsDVbPYR6
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) April 16, 2026
Additionally, his growing reliance on slower deliveries has made him more predictable. Instead of being surprised, batters now appear well-prepared for this variation and are able to handle him with relatively low risk. This issue is further compounded by the lack of early wickets at the other end, which has allowed opposition batters to play Bumrah more cautiously rather than under pressure. Without scoreboard pressure, even a bowler of Bumrah’s calibre can be effectively neutralised, prolonging Jasprit Bumrah’s IPL wicketless streak.
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Irfan Pathan’s Analysis：Simple Fix or Deeper Concern?
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan offered a clear and data-driven perspective on Bumrah’s struggles during a discussion on his YouTube channel. According to Pathan, nearly 44 percent of Bumrah’s deliveries this season have been slower balls a figure that significantly alters his usual bowling pattern.
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Bumrah’s success over the years has been built on subtle variation, where his slower ball works as a surprise element rather than a regular option. By overusing it, he has inadvertently reduced the effectiveness of his biggest weapon unpredictability. Pathan suggested that Bumrah should increase the proportion of faster deliveries and bring down the slower-ball usage to around 30–35 percent. This, he believes, would restore the contrast in pace that makes Bumrah so difficult to read and help correct Jasprit Bumrah’s form.
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At the same time, there is a growing school of thought among cricket analysts that the issue might not be purely tactical. Given Bumrah’s history with back injuries and his recent time spent managing workload, some experts feel that he may not be operating at full physical capacity. As a result, there have been calls for Mumbai Indians to consider resting him for a match or two. The idea is not to drop him, but to allow him to reset physically and mentally before the latter half of the tournament a move that could finally end Jasprit Bumrah’s IPL wicketless streak.
The Way Forward：Backing Bumrah Through the Phase
Despite the concerning numbers, this phase does not necessarily point to any long-term decline. Bumrah remains one of the most skillful and intelligent bowlers in international cricket, and his core fundamentals are still strong. What appears to be missing is a consistent rhythm and a clearer understanding of his primary role.
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This season, he has been used across different phases of the innings powerplay, middle overs, and death more as a containment option than as an attacking wicket-taking force. As a result, his impact has looked more diluted, with fewer breakthroughs coming at crucial moments.
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Moving forward, Mumbai Indians would benefit from simplifying Bumrah’s role and using him more as an attacking option, particularly in situations where wickets are needed. Furthermore, The team must also apply early pressure by taking early wickets in the powerplay overs of their bowling innings. Addressing these concerns is key to understanding What happened to Mumbai Indians this season and how they can recover.
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In the larger context, Jasprit Bumrah’s IPL wicketless streak appears to be a temporary dip rather than a decline. In T20 cricket, momentum can shift quickly, and one strong spell can change everything. While focus remains on Jasprit Bumrah’s form, the question of What happened to Mumbai Indians goes beyond one player, involving tactical gaps and lack of pressure from other bowlers. For MI, patience is key. Backing Bumrah, refining his role, and making smart tactical tweaks could help end this phase and revive their campaign.
