Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has stepped up to defend star pacer Jasprit Bumrah amid growing concerns over the fast bowler's subdued form in IPL 2026. Following a tough defeat against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, which left MI languishing in ninth place on the points table, questions have swirled around Bumrah's recent wicket-taking struggles. But Jayawardene is having none of the panic, insisting that bowling success is a team effort, not a solo mission.

"It's not just Booms; it's a collective effort from all the bowlers," Jayawardene said. "When everyone's working together and picking up wickets here and there, that helps Bumrah to be a bit more aggressive rather than doing a holding job. Everyone tends to have a slow season, but class is always permanent." The coach's message is clear: rather than pinning all hopes on one bowler, MI needs its entire bowling unit to step up and share the load.

Jayawardene also addressed the dip in form of Suryakumar Yadav, who arrived at this year's IPL carrying huge expectations after a record-shattering 2025 campaign where he piled up 717 runs. The T20 World Cup-winning captain has managed just 183 runs across nine games this season—a stark contrast to the fireworks he produced just a year ago. Still, the coach is keeping the faith. "I don't think his output is down; if he gets a few scores together, I think he'll find that rhythm. He played really well today for that period, really took on the bowlers in that phase," Jayawardene said, urging fans and critics alike to show patience as the team fights to turn its season around.