NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah, renowned for making life difficult for batters with his ability to rattle stumps and deliver toe-crushing yorkers, endured a lackluster campaign with the ball in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, managing only four wickets throughout the tournament. However, former South African pace spearhead Dale Steyn has come out in support of the Indian speedster, expressing confidence that Bumrah will bounce back emphatically next season and could even clinch the coveted Purple Cap.
Steyn's Vote of Confidence
Speaking on AB de Villiers' YouTube channel, Steyn reminded critics that Bumrah's recent form should not be judged solely on his IPL performance. He highlighted Bumrah's pivotal role in India's ICC Men's T20 World Cup triumph just a couple of months earlier, where he was one of the standout bowlers. "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.
Steyn added, "He'll come back strong and next season he'll probably win the Purple Cap next season."
Bumrah's IPL 2026 Performance
Bumrah also missed Mumbai Indians' final league match, a 30-run loss to Rajasthan Royals. The five-time champions ended their IPL 2026 campaign in ninth place on the points table, securing only four wins and suffering ten defeats in fourteen matches. Bumrah's limited wicket tally was a far cry from his usual standards, but Steyn's backing underscores the belief in his capabilities.
Mumbai Indians' Season Summary
- Matches: 14
- Wins: 4
- Losses: 10
- Points: 8
- Net Run Rate: -0.584
- Final Position: 9th (Eliminated)
Match Results
- 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
Rest and Recovery
Bumrah has also been rested for India's upcoming home series against Afghanistan, with the team management prioritizing his full fitness ahead of a demanding international calendar later this year.
