IPL 2026 | 'Jasprit Bumrah hasn't been up to mark, but he has still been ... ': Kieron Pollard's blunt take on star pacer's form
Despite Jasprit Bumrah's struggles in IPL 2026 with only two wickets in eight matches, Mumbai Indians' batting coach Kieron Pollard backed the star pacer. Pollard emphasized that even a bowling genius is allowed an off phase and urged for leniency, believing Bumrah will bounce back stronger.
NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah is enduring a tough run in IPL 2026. In eight matches, the star pacer has managed just two wickets - numbers that hardly reflect his reputation as one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket. However, Mumbai Indians’ batting coach Kieron Pollard has backed Bumrah, saying a fast-bowling genius is allowed to have an off phase.
Bumrah once again went wicketless and was taken for 54 runs in four overs by Sunrisers Hyderabad during their six-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. After MI posted a massive 243/5, powered by Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 123, SRH responded in style, chasing down the target with 249/4 in 18. 4 overs.
“When a cricketer is not doing well, we look at every single aspect as to why he's not doing well and there is no difference to Jasprit Bumrah,” Pollard told reporters when asked about several factors around Bumrah’s bowling in this IPL, including a dip in pace. — mipaltan (@mipaltan) “He has done this for years. As a human being, you're entitled as well to make mistakes, not have a good day, not have a good season, not have a good couple months.
I just feel that we need to sometimes remember the good things that he has done. " “Yes, we try to live in the present and he hasn't been up to mark, but he has still been a No. 1 bowler for Mumbai Indians and India over a period of time.