Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has put his weight behind Jasprit Bumrah after Mumbai Indians suffered an 18-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.

Ashwin blamed the rest of the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack for Bumrah’s wicketless campaign thus far. Bumrah has conceded 123 runs in four matches of IPL 2026 but has failed to take a solitary wicket.

Meanwhile, MI conceded 240 runs against RCB but Bumrah was the most economical bowler as gave away his runs at 8.80.

“In football, nobody will ask a defender how many goals he has scored, because a defender’s job is to prevent goals. Will you go and ask a goalkeeper how many goals he has scored? His job is to save the goal. T20 cricket is a sport where the bowler’s first job is to save runs. If you save six runs, your team can win because of that,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“The way Bhuvneshwar Kumar was bowling, if the required rate is 15-16, and a bowler comes in and gives 10-11 runs while bowling defensively, he is taking the match forward, and giving the next bowler a chance to get wickets. Because of Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma got 2 wickets. Who is bowling before and after Bumrah? Mumbai is struggling with the ball,” he continued.

Ashwin said going wicketless will be in Bumrah’s mind after the loss against the defending champions.

“The way the narrative is built, that Bumrah is not picking up wickets, it will go into Bumrah’s mind as well. He bowled a slower ball to Tim David, that was not a conventional Bumrah ball to a power hitter. Why is he bowling that? Because it will be in his mind that he has to take wickets. You have not picked wickets for 3-4 matches now, it is not your fault, the match is over now,” R Ashwin explained.

Mumbai Indians will next take on Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday.