Bumrah's nightmare IPL 2026 as bowlers struggle against big scores

Jasprit Bumrah conceded 54 runs without a wicket as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down 244 in a record-breaking IPL 2026 win.

Captains' last hope struggles Captains often turn to Jasprit Bumrah when matches slip away, expecting him to stabilize the bowling unit with wickets or tight overs. Yet in IPL 2026, even his presence hasn’t guaranteed control, as bowlers across the league face relentless scoring. Bumrah, though lacking his usual wicket tally, has maintained a solid economy rate of 8.07 this season. His reputation for shutting down batsmen was tested when Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 277 in 2024, where he conceded 9.00 runs per over while teammates averaged 15.06. ## Abhishek Sharma vs India’s strike bowler The highlight of the MI vs SRH clash was Abhishek Sharma in peak hitting form against India’s premier fast bowler. Bumrah held a slight edge with two dismissals in five innings, just 17 runs conceded, and a strike rate barely reaching 75. Bowlers have tried pace variations to counter Abhishek, with success coming from Mohammed Shami’s yorker and part-time options like Jacob Duffy and Shashank Singh. ## Bumrah’s opening setback Mumbai Indians started strongly, but Bumrah’s second over against SRH unraveled quickly. After starting quietly, two back-to-back wides disrupted his rhythm. Switching to his slower ball, Abhishek anticipated the change and launched it over mid-on for a six. The over spiraled further as a thigh pad deflection added four more runs, totaling 14 off the opening spell. ## Powerplay carnage ensues SRH’s powerplay in the 244-run chase was brutal, with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma tearing through MI’s attack. Trent Boult, Will Jacks, and AM Ghazanfar all bore the brunt of their assault. Hardik Pandya turned to Bumrah for relief, but Head smashed a 99-meter six off a full toss, followed by a four off a slower ball. Abhishek finished the over with another four, leaving SRH at 92 for no loss after six overs. ## Record-breaking powerplay damage Scoring over 15 runs per over in the powerplay has become SRH’s trademark this season, and they executed it flawlessly. MI’s safety net vanished as the game slipped beyond recovery. Bumrah’s 32 runs from the first two overs (including leg-byes) marked his worst powerplay spell ever in the IPL, surpassing even his 2021 record of 55 runs in an innings. ## Abhishek’s dismissal slows but doesn’t stop SRH Ghazanfar struck back-to-back blows, removing Abhishek Sharma and another batter, but SRH’s momentum barely wavered. Heinrich Klaasen strode to the crease, and the damage continued. By the 13th over, every MI bowler had been targeted, forcing Hardik Pandya to rely on Bumrah again in a dire situation. ## Klaasen’s dismantling of Bumrah Bumrah’s struggles intensified as Klaasen punished him with a six off a full delivery, followed by another four off a slower ball. Nitish Kumar Reddy joined the fray, adding more runs before Bumrah’s final spell in the 18th over left SRH needing 24 off 18 balls. Klaasen sealed the game with another four over Bumrah’s head, extinguishing MI’s faint hopes. ## Uncapped batsman joins the onslaught The most audacious shot of the night came from uncapped Salil Arora, who capitalized on a missed yorker outside off. He remained still and launched the ball over long-off for a no-look six, one of the cleanest hits of the innings. By then, Bumrah’s 0 for 54 had become the third-most expensive spell of his IPL career, his costliest since conceding 55 runs in 2021. ## Bumrah’s season of uncharacteristic struggles Despite mixing lengths, pace variations, and yorkers, Bumrah lacked his usual control against SRH. He hasn’t been able to string together three dot balls consecutively as often as before, managing it just once every four overs this season. His average speed has dipped to 132.1kph, a noticeable drop from his peak. ## SRH’s philosophy pays off again SRH’s approach of dismantling attacks around Bumrah and targeting the bowler most teams rely on proved decisive. Unlike their 2024 record-breaking game, they not only overpowered MI’s bowlers but also neutralized the one bowler who usually stifles their chases. The win extended their five-match winning streak, reinforcing their reputation for aggressive batting.