Jasprit Bumrah scripts unwanted record; becomes first bowler to… – Jasprit Bumrah scripts unwanted record; becomes first bowler to average over 100
A Challenging Campaign for a Cricket Icon
The 2026 Indian Premier League season has proven to be an anomaly for Mumbai Indians and their star spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah. While the pacer is widely regarded as one of the most effective bowlers in the history of international cricket, the most recent edition of the tournament saw him struggle to replicate his usual levels of dominance. The Wankhede Stadium faithful, accustomed to seeing the right-arm seamer dismantle batting lineups, instead witnessed a season defined by missed opportunities and statistical struggles.
The Statistical Breakdown of an Unprecedented Slump
As the tournament concluded, the numbers revealed a sobering reality for the veteran bowler. Throughout the IPL 2026 season, Bumrah managed to claim only four wickets in his appearances. This performance marks the pacer’s most difficult season since his debut era in 2015, where he took three wickets across four matches. However, the 2026 figures are statistically more significant due to the sheer volume of games played and the corresponding impact on his economy and strike rate.
Specifically, the 32-year-old recorded a bowling average of 102.5 for the season. This figure represents the worst bowling average in the history of the league for a bowler who has completed a full campaign. By surpassing the 100-run-per-wicket threshold, Bumrah has unfortunately entered the record books for all the wrong reasons.
Contextualizing the Record
To understand the magnitude of this statistic, one must look at previous benchmarks of difficulty. Before this season, the record for the highest bowling average was held by former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha, who recorded an average of 95 during the 2014 season. Other names that have appeared on this unfortunate list include international icons such as Brett Lee, Harbhajan Singh, and Krunal Pandya, who all hovered in the 60s during their respective lean spells. Notably, many of these players experienced their difficult runs while representing the Mumbai Indians, with the exception of Brett Lee, whose 2011 season with the Kolkata Knight Riders yielded an average of 67.
Reflections from Experts: The Ashwin Perspective
The struggles of the Mumbai Indians, who finished the season in ninth place with only eight points from 14 games, have sparked intense debate among experts. Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, offered a scathing critique of the squad’s composition and performance. Ashwin remarked that the side felt “strange” and lacked the cohesion expected of a franchise with such a rich history.
Addressing the specific case of the team’s lead pacer, Ashwin stated, “Bumrah wasn’t playing today, and he has recorded the worst ever bowling average in the history of the league. This is the first time any bowler has been part of a full season of the league and averaged over 100.” Ashwin further cautioned that unless significant structural changes are made to the team, the Mumbai Indians could face another challenging season in 2027.
Looking Ahead
The figures from the 2026 season—highlighted by his best individual performance of 1/15 against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad—suggest that while the skill remains, the consistency was lacking. For a bowler of Bumrah’s caliber, the offseason will likely be a period of intense reflection and technical adjustment. The cricket world will undoubtedly be watching closely to see if he can bounce back and reclaim his status as the premier wicket-taker in the format. Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, have a monumental task ahead in rebuilding a squad that struggled to find its rhythm throughout the year, narrowly avoiding the bottom of the table thanks to a superior net run rate compared to the Lucknow Super Giants.
