Bumrah’s worst average in IPL 2026: What’s behind the rare dip? (Image: X)

Jasprit Bumrah He is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the world today, but it is surprising to see that his average in this IPL season is the worst at the moment. Bumrah did not get any wicket in his first five matches and he took his first wicket in the sixth match against Gujarat Titans, dismissing Sai Sudarshan on the very first ball he bowled in that game.Before this match, Bumrah was struggling and could not get any wicket. Mumbai Indians‘First five matches against Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings. His wicket of Sudarshan, who was dismissed for a golden duck, helped lay the foundation for Mumbai Indians’ victory as Gujarat Titans suffered a heavy 99-run defeat.Bumrah has historically dominated some of the greatest T20 batsmen. He had never hit sixes to players like Travis Head and Sanju Samson, but during this difficult phase in IPL 2026, both of them managed to hit sixes on them. Young talented Vaibhav Suryavanshi also supported him by hitting two sixes in the same over. This highlights the difficult phase Bumrah is going through at the moment.Bumrah’s current IPL bowling average is 132, which is the worst average of his T20 career. Compared to other bowlers who have bowled 30 or more overs this season, his average is almost double that, which places him among the worst performers for Mumbai Indians. This dip in form could be one of the reasons why Mumbai Indians have struggled to maintain momentum.Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was only the second time in IPL history that Mumbai Indians failed to defend a score of 200 or more, and the first time at the Wankhede Stadium. In that match, Bumrah gave away 54 runs in his four overs, including sixes from Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Salil Arora. It is rare to see Bumrah hitting so many sixes, especially in situations when his team trusts him the most.

What is behind Jasprit Bumrah’s struggle?

Bumrah enters IPL 2026 after an intense and hectic international schedule, which included the Asia Cup, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, series against Australia and South Africa and a challenging five-match Test series in England. During the England tour alone, despite a long-standing back problem, he bowled 119 overs in three matches.Cricket experts have pointed to several possible reasons for his decline in form. Some believe that Bumrah may not have got enough rest after playing international cricket continuously, while others believe that he has struggled to regain his normal rhythm and length.Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth made his assessment clear after Bumrah’s outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad:“Bumrah is not finding that zip at all. Not a single ball is looking dangerous. Maybe he is tired, so I am not blaming him. But he is clearly not at his best. He is working hard but looks very normal. His statement shows that Bumrah might be tired after the packed schedule.Ravichandran Ashwin, on the other hand, highlighted the mental aspect of the game. While Bumrah was wicketless in the first five matches, Ashwin suggested that external narratives and pressure may have affected his rhythm.“I still think Bumrah bowled really well in the first two matches, but then the team started losing. Then this story also started that Bumrah is not getting wickets. This was probably going on in his mind,” Ashwin said, adding that Bumrah’s best is still to come.Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif also said that Bumrah’s body may not be fully supporting him at the moment and a short break can help him regain peak fitness.During this time, Kieron PollardThe batting coach of Mumbai Indians did not pay much attention to the concerns regarding Bumrah’s form. He stressed that the fast bowler is human and it is natural to fall down occasionally, urging people to remember his great contribution to the team over the years.Take a look at the bowling averages, their averages and economy rates among players who have bowled 30 or more overs this season:-

In contrast, during IPL 2025, Bumrah led the Mumbai Indians bowling attack in a stellar season, taking 18 wickets in 12 matches. Despite missing the first four games due to a back injury, he bounced back strongly and produced what many analysts considered to be his most economical season, maintaining an economy rate of 6.68, the best among bowlers taking more than 10 wickets in the league.Before the IPL, Bumrah was a key figure in the India national cricket team’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 campaign peaked in the final on March 8, 2026, where he was named player of the match for his excellent figures of 4/15 against the New Zealand national cricket team. Earlier, in the match against England at Wankhede Stadium, he achieved the feat of 500 international wickets by dismissing Harry Brook on the very first ball.