‘Look after him’: Ravi Shastri's urgent appeal for Jasprit Bumrah

Ravi Shastri wants the Mumbai Indians to look after Jasprit Bumrah for the long-term gains of Indian cricket.

Updated on: May 5, 2026, 17:15:01 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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Ravi Shastri, like many, is concerned about Jasprit Bumrah’s slump in form. The Indian pacer has looked a shadow of himself for the Mumbai Indians in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). With just three wickets in 10 matches, this has been Bumrah’s toughest season so far. Unless things take a dramatic turn in the remaining games, it could get even more difficult. Strangely, despite being one of MI’s most economical bowlers, the wickets have dried up. He went five matches without a wicket, and it was only against the Gujarat Titans that he finally ended the drought. There was hope he would build on that, but it has been more of the same.

Jasprit Bumrah has taken just three wickets from 10 matches (PTI)

With a packed calendar ahead, Shastri, the former India coach, has urged the franchise to take good care of Bumrah for the long-term benefit of Indian cricket. With a World Cup in South Africa next year, along with Test tours of New Zealand and Australia, among other key assignments, Shastri feels Bumrah needs to ease his mental fatigue and hopes MI can help him do so.

Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar loses cool, lashes out at Jasprit Bumrah for ‘unacceptable’ act

“Bumrah has entered this IPL off the back of a heavy workload with the Indian team over the last 12 months. His struggles are not just physical. Mental fatigue is a big reason. Mumbai Indians need to look after him. Over the next two years, there is a packed schedule, multiple Test series and the 50-over World Cup are coming up. So, his fitness and workload will have to be managed very carefully,” on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary’.

What went wrong

Surprisingly, Bumrah was in top form at the T20 World Cup in March, which India won, picking up 14 wickets and finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker. However, his form dipped just a couple of weeks later. A section of fans isn’t overly concerned, believing that as long as he performs for India, it’s acceptable. But it doesn’t take long for a slump to deepen.

Workload management has been a major talking point around Bumrah. Everything possible is being done to keep him fresh and injury-free, from resting him during the Test series against England to preserving him against lower-ranked opponents. Still, nothing can be taken for granted. India’s international calendar resumes in full swing from the end of June, with a tour of Ireland followed by a white-ball series in England. With the 50-over World Cup scheduled next year, and India having not won it since 2011, the pressure is immense. India would benefit greatly from having one less concern if Bumrah returns to peak form.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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