This year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed a less than stellar performance from renowned bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, both of whom were instrumental in India’s victory at the recent T20 World Cup.
Bumrah has recorded only three wickets in ten matches for the Mumbai Indians, posting an average of 109.67. Arshdeep’s performance has also been fairly average, with a total of 12 wickets from 11 games, including a recent outing where he took 1 for 43 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
During Arshdeep’s match against the Sunrisers, former Indian coach and 1983 World Cup champion Ravi Shastri commented on the apparent signs of mental fatigue among these celebrated bowlers following their T20 World Cup success. “Observing how the season has unfolded, it’s evident that some seasoned bowlers, who have played extensively, including for India and in World Cups, are exhibiting signs of mental exhaustion,” Shastri noted while commentating on JioHotstar.
Bumrah, who was named player of the tournament in India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with 15 wickets, was also the joint leading wicket-taker, playing a crucial role in securing the title. In the final against New Zealand, he was awarded man of the match for his impressive four-wicket performance. Meanwhile, Arshdeep matched Bumrah’s achievement in the World Cup by also taking 17 wickets.
In the T20 World Cup, Arshdeep contributed nine wickets to India’s championship run. However, his IPL statistics show that prior to Wednesday’s game, he had secured just 11 wickets in ten matches, averaging 36—the highest among bowlers with ten appearances. Shastri emphasized the need for these players to recuperate properly.
In a recent match against the Lucknow Super Giants, Bumrah went wicketless and conceded 45 runs. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar also shared his insights regarding Bumrah’s struggles this season. “Bumrah is putting in great effort, but he seems to be experimenting excessively. Although he managed to claim a wicket after a strategic timeout, it was ruled a no-ball. He is generating opportunities for wickets, but luck hasn’t favored him. His speed appears to have diminished, and his usual slower ball length is now fuller. The line he used to aim for the stumps has shifted towards the leg stump,” Gavaskar remarked during the broadcast.
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