IPL 2026: ‘Do you want to take a break for a game?’ - Veda Krishnamurthy questions Mumbai Indians over Jasprit Bumrah’s usage

Published - 05 May 2026, 17:09 IST | Updated - 05 May 2026, 18:05 IST

Former India cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy has urged the Mumbai Indians (MI) management to have an honest conversation with pacer Jasprit Bumrah following his underwhelming run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

Bumrah’s struggles continued during Mumbai’s clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium, where he returned figures of 0/45. Notably, this marked the seventh instance this season in which he has gone wicketless, raising concerns about his form and impact.

“We are in that space that the management, or coach, or even captain - Surya is pretty close to him, he is the vice-captain of the squad - and Rohit is around, they can probably honestly sit and have a chat. Ask him: ‘Are you feeling 100% from within?' Do you want to take a break for a game or so?' So that he comes back fresh. That is something you can probably ask him and expect him to answer you honestly,” Veda said on ESPNcricinfo.

Veteran India batter weigh in on Bumrah's performance

Despite an off day from Bumrah, MI secured a comfortable six-wicket win, chasing down 229 in just 18.4 overs. The foundation was laid by a brilliant 143-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma (84) and Ryan Rickelton (83). Meanwhile, former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar echoed concerns around Bumrah’s form, suggesting that the team management might need to make a strategic call depending on their priorities for the remainder of the IPL.

“It also boils down to what the coach and the management is thinking. I mean, from a coaching perspective or from a management perspective, if MI are okay to play without Bumrah, if MI are okay to maybe finish the season in the lower ranks, so to say, as far as the point stable is concerned, if that is the case, then I think Bumrah may probably in all likelihood take that to call of, you know, not playing the rest of the games,” Bangar said.

Bumrah has managed just three wickets in ten matches so far in the IPL, with his economy rate also higher than usual, conceding over eight runs per over. MI will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 10 in Raipur.