Jasprit Bumrah has endured an unusually difficult campaign in IPL 2026, raising questions among fans and experts about what has gone wrong for one of the world’s most dependable fast bowlers. Former Indian pacer Umesh Yadav believes the issue may not be entirely about form, but rather how the Mumbai Indians management has utilized Bumrah throughout the season.
Coming into the tournament after another strong international campaign, expectations around Bumrah were extremely high. However, the star pacer struggled to make his usual impact during the early stages of the season, going wicketless in his first five matches. Even though he has managed to pick up a few wickets since then, his economy rate and overall influence have been below the standards fans normally associate with him.
According to Umesh Yadav, the lack of consistency in Bumrah’s bowling role has played a major part in his struggles. He pointed out that Mumbai Indians have frequently changed when Bumrah is introduced into the attack, sometimes using him in the powerplay and at other times holding him back. This uncertainty, Umesh suggested, has prevented Bumrah from building pressure effectively.
Umesh explained that opposition batters are no longer attacking Bumrah recklessly. Instead, teams are focusing on safely negotiating his overs before targeting the other bowlers in the lineup. Without early wickets or pressure from the opposite end, Bumrah is often forced to create wicket-taking opportunities entirely on his own.
In contrast, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has enjoyed an outstanding IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The experienced swing bowler has become one of the leading wicket-takers of the tournament and has consistently delivered breakthroughs in both the powerplay and death overs.
Umesh credited Bhuvneshwar’s success to the clarity of his role within the team setup. He highlighted how the bowler knows exactly when he will bowl and what the team expects from him. With strong support from teammates like Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar has been able to attack batters confidently and maintain pressure from the very beginning of the innings.
The former Indian pacer also praised Bhuvneshwar’s mastery with the new ball, explaining how his ability to maintain disciplined line and length forces batters into making mistakes. Rather than relying on raw pace, Bhuvneshwar continues to trouble players with movement, consistency, and smart tactical bowling.
Umesh ultimately emphasized that the biggest difference between the two senior pacers lies in the support system around them. While Bhuvneshwar operates within a clearly defined structure backed by strong bowling partnerships, Bumrah has often been left to handle difficult situations without enough assistance from the rest of the attack.
The discussion came during JioHotstar’s “Champions Waali Commentary,” where former IPL champions share deeper insights into player mindsets, match situations, and behind-the-scenes experiences beyond standard ball-by-ball analysis.