Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has opened up about the poor form of stalwarts Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah in IPL 2026.
After their loss to Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, MI were all but eliminated from playoff contention in IPL 2026. For a team that has won the trophy five times, it is a completely unexpected rite of passage.
Before the season began, MI was hailed as the team to beat thanks to their star power. Mumbai Indians had four players from India’s 2026 T20 World Cup-winning team: MI captain Hardik Pandya, India captain Suryakumar Yadav, pace ace Jasprit Bumrah and young batsman Tilak Varma.
Now, however, all four are woefully out of form, and that has resulted in Mumbai Indians being ninth in the IPL 2026 points table. Not to mention, five-time IPL trophy-winning MI captain Rohit Sharma is currently injured.
KEY POINTS
- Mahela Jayawardene endorsed Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah
- He said both players are close to regaining form.
- Mumbai Indians struggle near the bottom of the table
Poor form for all Mumbai Indians players
With just a half-century, Suryakumar Yadav has made just 183 runs in 9 matches at an average of 20 and a strike rate of 144.
Tilak Varma made it a century earlier in the season but managed only 193 runs in 9 matches with a high score of 101*. He averages only 24, but has a relatively good strike rate of 165.
Captain Hardik Pandya has also failed to make any real impact with the bat. In 8 matches, he has 146 runs at an average of 21 and a strike rate of 136 with a high score of 40.
With the ball, Pandya has been worse. He has bowled more than 20 overs in the tournament but has taken only 4 wickets. He has been averaging 61.50 with an economy of almost 12 runs per over.
Jasprit Bumrah has been completely out of touch with the ball in IPL 2026. In 9 matches, he has taken just 3 wickets with a respectable economy of 8.6 but a dazzling average of 94.67.
“It’s just a matter of time” – Jayawardene on Suryakumar Yadav
Mahela Jayawardene was speaking during the post-match press conference following MI’s loss to Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, May 2.
On Suryakumar Yadav, Jayawardene said it was basically a matter of time until he found his rhythm, even though there are only 5 matches left in the season.
“I don’t think his performance has gone down; if he gets some scores together I think he will find that rhythm. He played really well today during that period, he really took on the bowlers in that phase. I think in a couple more overs he could have got a really good score.”
“Sometimes when things don’t go your way, they don’t click; I think it was a pretty good throw that went right to the outfielder. He’s definitely ready to do it, I think he’s in a good space, it just hasn’t worked out like the number of times he’s been caught on the edge this season with some of those throws. It’s just a matter of time, but I think he’s disappointed himself, but he’s got to keep working harder,” he said.
Suryakumar Yadav made only fifty in IPL 2026. Interestingly, he was the stand-in captain for that match.
On Jasprit Bumrah, Jayawardene said MI’s collective failures in bowling were hampering Bumrah’s production.
“It’s not just about Booms; it’s a collective effort from all the players. When everyone works together and picks up wickets here and there, it helps Bumrah to be a bit more aggressive rather than doing a holding job. Everyone tends to have a slow season, but class is always permanent,” he emphasised.
Also Read: No Virat Kohli! Dinesh Karthik compares Smriti Mandhana to MS Dhoni amid IPL 2026
Mumbai Indians Next Match
MI and Suryakumar Yadav will next face the equally dubious Lucknow Super Giants.
Now that MI is all but eliminated from IPL 2026, they will hope that the no-lose attitude will help their players get fit.
Frequently asked questions
- What did Mahela Jayawardene say about Suryakumar Yadav?
He said it is just a matter of time before Suryakumar gets his groove back. - What is Jasprit Bumrah’s form in IPL 2026?
He has taken only 3 wickets in 9 matches at a high average. - Can Mumbai Indians still qualify for the playoffs?
They are almost out of the competition after multiple defeats.