Royal Challengers Bangalore beat by 18 runs mumbai indians The Wankhede Stadium of IPL 2026 also brings Jasprit BumrahUnusual wicket-taking runs with Indian spinners back in focus Ravichandran Ashwin Step in to defend the star Pacers. bangla MI lost again, conceding 240/4 and then fell to 222/5, despite a remarkable unbeaten run in 71 games. Shervan Rutherford. This marked another frustrating performance for MI Pioneers, whose struggles have continued for two IPL seasons. In fact, Bumrah’s bowling figures in the last five IPLs highlight a rare drought. He was 0/40 (4) against PBKS in Ahmedabad, 0/35 (4) against KKR in Wankhede, 0/21 (4) against DC in Delhi, 0/32 (3) against RR in Guwahati and 0/35 (4) against RCB in Wankhede. Overall, he has now bowled 122 balls without a wicket, the longest wicketless spell in his IPL career. However, Ravichandran Ashwin refuted the criticism leveled at Bumrah, stressing that focusing solely on wickets does not reflect his true impact on the game. Speaking about X, he warned that such a narrative could mislead the team. “Bumrah’s lack of wickets could hamper the team’s cause. The fact that he nails yorkers and suffocates opponents in every run is more important than his quest to pick up wickets, especially at a venue like Wankhede,” Ashwin said.
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He further explained the tactical realities of T20 bowling and added, “When you can’t bowl fast, your wicket-taking ability depends on getting the ball to your partners. We have had T20 cricket for many years now and partnership bowling as a defensive unit remains a seed in the heart of the bowling unit,” Ashwin added. In the match, RCB’s batting firepower once again proved decisive with Phil Salt (78), Virat Kohli (50) and rajapatidar (53 in 20 overs) took their win rate to 240/4 and despite Rutherford’s late attack, their bowlers kept their nerve in the final over. Ashwin’s comments provide a wider perspective on Bumrah’s performance, highlighting that his control and economy in high-scoring situations remain just as valuable as wickets, even as MI continue to struggle in recent games.
