Indian pacer Umesh Yadav recently expressed his thoughts on the Mumbai Indians’ struggles in IPL 2026. The five-time champions are currently ninth on the points table, having won just 2 matches out of 7.
Yadav hasn’t played for India since 2023 and was unsold in the IPL 2026 auctions said that over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah was hurting MI. Yadav also touched upon how expectations may have been weighing down the India star.
Relying on a single bowler is not the right approach- Umesh Yadav on Jasprit Bumrah
Speaking to RevSportz, Yadav said that it is unfair to expect even the best of bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah to be able to win matches on his own.
“Relying on a single bowler is never the right approach in cricket—it’s a team game. Matches aren’t won or lost because of one player alone; success usually depends on the combined performance of at least 3–4 players,” Yadav said.
“In the case of Jasprit Bumrah, there’s often an expectation that he will do everything. But opposition teams plan carefully—if they play him like any other bowler and avoid giving away wickets, his impact can be reduced. Even the best bowlers have off deliveries; it’s unrealistic to expect perfection every time,” he added.
The issue isn’t just about bowling- Umesh Yadav
Yadav went on to talk about the Mumbai Indians’ inconsistency this season. He opined that the struggles were present with both balls. Ultimately, inconsistency was hurting the side, he said.
“If wickets don’t come in the powerplay or pressure isn’t built in the death overs, it affects the overall outcome. Looking at Mumbai Indians, the issue isn’t just about bowling. The team has been going through frequent changes and hasn’t found a stable combination. While there are concerns in the bowling unit, batting has also been inconsistent,” Yadav added.
He said that the lack of support for any batters who do actually perform is making it difficult for the Mumbai Indians to win matches. “If one batter performs, others often fail to support, which makes chasing big totals—like 200 runs—difficult,” he continued.
No single player can win matches alone- Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav said that the Mumbai Indians needed to recognize that cricket was a team sport and stop relying on one or two players.
“Mumbai Indians are a successful franchise with five titles, largely built on strong batting performances. That’s why it’s important to recognize that both batting and bowling need to click together. Ultimately, cricket is a collective effort—no single player, not even someone as skilled as Jasprit Bumrah, can win matches alone,” he concluded.
Jasprit Bumrah in IPL 2026
Yadav’s comments have come against the backdrop of Jasprit Bumrah’s visibly poor form in the tournament. Bumrah infamously went through a rough patch where he took no wickets in the first five matches of this season.
Bumrah has been relatively economical compared to other bowlers, but he has taken just 2 wickets in 7 matches. The lack of wickets has put pressure on MI’s other bowlers, and none of them have been able to deal with it. Mumbai Indians will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai on April 29 in their next match.
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