NEW DELHI: Known for giving batters a tough time, rattling stumps and troubling them with toe-crushing yorkers, Jasprit Bumrah did not have the best of campaigns with the ball in Indian Premier League 2026 as he managed to claim just four wickets in the tournament.However, former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn backed Bumrah despite his disappointing season and said the Indian speedster would return strongly next year and could even win the Purple Cap. Steyn also reminded critics that Bumrah had played a crucial role in India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph just a couple of months earlier.“He won a World Cup just a month and a half, two months ago, and he was probably one of the bowlers of the tournament. So you can’t focus on him primarily. He had a bad tournament (IPL). There have been good batters at this IPL that haven’t hit the ground running. Okay. So it shows that he’s human,” Steyn said on AB de Villiers’ YouTube channel.“He’ll come back strong and next season he’ll probably win the Purple Cap next season,” Steyn said.Bumrah also missed Mumbai Indians‘ last league match, which the five-time champions lost by 30 runs.Mumbai Indians ended their IPL 2026 campaign in ninth place on the points table. They managed just four wins and suffered 10 defeats in 14 matches.Bumrah has also been rested for India’s upcoming home series against the Afghanistan national cricket team, with the team management aiming to ensure he returns fully fit ahead of a demanding international calendar later this year.
Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026
Matches: 14Wins: 4Losses: 10Points: 8Net Run Rate: -0.584Final Position: 9th (Eliminated)
| Opposition | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Mar 29 | Won by 6 wickets |
| Delhi Capitals | Apr 04 | Lost by 6 wickets |
| Rajasthan Royals | Apr 07 | Lost by 27 runs |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Apr 12 | Lost by 18 runs |
| Punjab Kings | Apr 16 | Lost by 7 wickets |
| Gujarat Titans | Apr 20 | Won by 99 runs |
| Chennai Super Kings | Apr 23 | Lost by 103 runs |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Apr 29 | Lost by 6 wickets |
| Chennai Super Kings | May 02 | Lost by 8 wickets |
| Lucknow Super Giants | May 04 | Won by 6 wickets |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | May 10 | Lost by 2 wickets |
| Punjab Kings | May 14 | Won by 6 wickets |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | May 20 | Lost by 4 wickets |
| Rajasthan Royals | May 24 | Lost by 30 runs |
