Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard has put his weight behind Jasprit Bumrah amid the ongoing IPL 2026. Bumrah has scalped only two wickets in eight matches of the ongoing season at an average of 132 and an economy rate of 8.80.

The ace pacer had another tough night against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Wednesday as he returned with expensive figures of 0-54 in his two overs.

The gun fast bowler has always been a consistent performer for MI over the years and Pollard said Bumrah is entitled to one bad season.

“Again, when a cricketer is not doing well, we look at every single aspect as to why he’s not doing well. And there’s no difference with Jasprit Bumrah, all right? He has done this for years,” Pollard said in the post-match press conference.

“As a human being, he’s entitled as well to make mistakes, to not have a good day, not have a good season, not have a good couple of months. And I just feel that we need to sometimes remember the good things that he has done.”

Pollard admitted that Bumrah hasn’t been right on the money in the ongoing season. 

“Yes, we try to live in the present, and he hasn’t been up to the mark. But he’s still been the number one bowler for the Mumbai Indians and India over a period of time. So I just feel that sometimes we can cut some slack to us cricketers, because, as I always say, we are unfortunate to always be in the public eye.”

“When normal people have jobs, and they send the wrong email, they have the opportunity to edit the words and all these things. We don’t have that opportunity. So it’s fair and fine – when you’re not doing well, you accept certain things. And knowing the individual, I know he’s going to bounce back to greater heights and take wickets. And we’re again going to be singing “Bumrah, Bumrah,” not only for Mumbai Indians but for India. So again, let’s cut him some slack, and let’s see if that might help him as well – if we see some good things written about him.”