Kieron Pollard was unequivocal in his assessment of Jasprit Bumrah. Addressing the media on the eve of Mumbai Indians’ home game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the batting coach insisted the franchise was not “looking too much” into Bumrah’s wicket-less run.

“When the time comes to get wickets, he’ll get wickets. If not, and he’s economical, we’ll accept that as well,” Pollard said, backing the spearhead to come good.

But as the two heavyweight team clashed at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, Bumrah’s lean patch continued. He returned figures of 0 for 35 in four overs (economy 8.75), the most economical among the six bowlers used, yet unable to provide the breakthroughs Mumbai Indians desperately needed as RCB piled up a daunting 240.

Against a star-studded batting unit, Mumbai’s bowlers were put under sustained pressure from the outset. Bumrah, often relied upon to break partnerships or stem the flow of runs, found himself operating in damage-control mode.

He began with a 10-run over, with Virat Kohli welcoming him with a deft boundary over short third. While he managed to keep things tight thereafter, the early opportunity to make an inroad slipped by.

Reintroduced in the sixth over, shortly after Mitchell Santner conceded 22 runs, Bumrah briefly restored control, giving away just six. It was a reminder of his discipline and control, even on a night when the margins were unforgiving.

However, wickets remained elusive. With Phil Salt and Kohli setting the tempo and attacking relentlessly, Mumbai Indians struggled to find a way through.

In his second spell, Bumrah delivered a tidy seven-run over, but the penultimate over tilted the balance again. Tim David took him on, striking a four and a six as Bumrah conceded 13 runs, a rare sight for a bowler who usually thrives at the death.

So far this season, Bumrah has conceded 123 runs in four matches without a wicket, an unusual stretch for a bowler of his calibre. The last time he endured a similar phase was back in 2014, when he went four matches without a breakthrough.

For Mumbai Indians, the concern is not just the lack of wickets, but the absence of those decisive interventions Bumrah has so often provided, the breakthroughs that halt momentum and shift matches.

The tournament, though, is still young. And the team would hope for Bumrah to rediscover his rhythm, because as history suggests, when Bumrah strikes, the balance often shifts with MI.

Published on Apr 12, 2026