Irfan Pathan Flags Bumrah’s Wicketless Start as a Worry for Mumbai

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has said Jasprit Bumrah’s failure to take a wicket this IPL season is a real problem for Mumbai Indians. The pacer is wicketless after five matches and had another difficult night at the Wankhede Stadium on April 16, conceding 41 runs as Punjab Kings won by seven wickets.

Pathan’s diagnosis

Pathan does not think Bumrah is injured. He believes two things are hurting him: he has not been bowling at his top pace, and his slower deliveries have been landing too short. His advice was to pitch the slower ball fuller and to bowl more high-pace deliveries.

Praise for Iyer and Prabhsimran

The former seamer was also full of praise for Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer, who made 66 off 35 balls as his side hunted down 196 in just 16.3 overs. Pathan noted how well Iyer read Bumrah’s short-ball plan and handled it with confidence.

He was even warmer about wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, whose unbeaten 80 off 39 balls included 11 fours and two sixes. Pathan said no amount of praise would do the innings justice, pointing to the control and improvement on show. According to him, Prabhsimran waited for the slower balls from Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur, did not step out to Bumrah, but still played aggressively against him.