Indian pacer Umesh Yadav recently expressed his opinion on Mumbai Indians’ struggles in IPL 2026. The five-time champions are currently at 9th place in the points table, having won just 2 matches out of 7.
Yadav has not played for India since 2023 and went unsold in the IPL 2026 auctions, saying over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah was hurting MI. Yadav also touched on how expectations may have been weighing on the Indian star.
Relying on just one bowler is not the right approach: Umesh Yadav on Jasprit Bumrah
Speaking to RevSportz, Yadav said it is unfair to expect even top players like Jasprit Bumrah to be able to win matches on his own.
“Relying on a single player is never the right approach in cricket – it is a team game. Matches are not won or lost thanks to a single player; success usually depends on the combined performance of at least 3-4 players,” Yadav said.
“In the case of Jasprit Bumrah, there is often an expectation that he will do everything. But rival teams plan carefully: if they play him like any other bowler and avoid giving away wickets, his impact can be reduced. Even the best players have bad bowlers; it is unrealistic to expect perfection all the time,” he added.
The problem is not just about bowling: Umesh Yadav
Yadav went on to talk about Mumbai Indians’ inconsistency this season. He believed that the fights occurred with both balls. In the end, the inconsistency was hurting the team, he said.
“If wickets do not come in the powerplay or pressure is not generated in the death overs, it affects the overall result. Looking at Mumbai Indians, the problem is not just about the bowling. The team has been going through frequent changes and has not found a stable combination. While there are concerns in the bowling unit, the batting has also been inconsistent,” Yadav added.
He said the lack of support for batsmen who really perform makes it difficult for Mumbai Indians to win matches. “If one batsman performs, others often don’t support him, which makes chasing big totals, like 200 runs, difficult,” he continued.
No player can win matches alone: Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav said Mumbai Indians needed to recognize that cricket was a team sport and stop depending on one or two players.
“Mumbai Indians are a successful franchise with five titles, built largely on strong batting performances. That is why it is important to recognize that both batting and bowling must mesh. Ultimately, cricket is a collective effort – no player, not even someone as skilled as Jasprit Bumrah, can win matches alone,” he concluded.
Jasprit Bumrah at IPL 2026
Yadav’s comments came in the backdrop of Jasprit Bumrah’s visibly poor form in the tournament. Bumrah went through a poor patch where he took no wickets in the first five matches of this season.
Bumrah has been relatively economical compared to other bowlers but has only taken 2 wickets in 7 matches. The lack of wickets has put pressure on the other MI players and none of them have been able to cope with it. Mumbai Indians will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai on April 29 in their next match.
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