Jasprit Bumrah Sets Unfortunate IPL Record in 2026 Season

Jasprit Bumrah's performance in the 2026 IPL season has been marked by disappointment, as he set a record for the worst bowling average in IPL history. With only four wickets across 13 matches and an economy rate of 8.36, Bumrah's struggles have raised eyebrows. This article delves into the details of his season, highlighting his unprecedented statistics and the challenges he faced on the field. Explore how Bumrah's performance compares to past records and what this means for his future in the league.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2026, 18:09 IST

Bumrah's Struggles in IPL 2026

Jasprit Bumrah faced a challenging season in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), missing the match between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). This absence concluded his campaign with a mere four wickets. The 32-year-old participated in 13 matches, including one as captain, but ended with a disappointing average of 102.5 after bowling 49 overs. Despite this, he maintained a commendable economy rate of 8.36. Throughout the season, Bumrah never managed to secure more than one wicket in any match, going wicketless in nine games. His only dismissals came against Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans), Kartik Sharma (Chennai Super Kings), and Sanju Samson (Chennai Super Kings).

Bumrah's Unprecedented Record

Jasprit Bumrah's Unwanted Record

Bumrah has now become the first bowler in IPL history to bowl at least 30 overs while averaging over 100 in a single season. The previous record for the worst figures was held by MI spinner Pragyan Ojha, set in 2014. Among bowlers who have bowled over 40 overs in a season, only three have averaged above 70.

Worst Bowling Average In An IPL Season (Minimum 30 Overs Bowled)

Player	Bowling Average	Overs bowled	Wickets Taken	Year
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)	102.5	49	4	2026
Pragyan Ojha (Mumbai Indians)	95	46	4	2014
Prasidh Krishna (Kolkata Knight Riders)	94.25	40.2	4	2019
Shahbaz Ahmed (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)	84	35	4	2022
JP Duminy (Delhi Daredevils)	80	33	3	2024

Bumrah's Economy Rate Analysis

Jasprit Bumrah's Worst IPL Season?

This season, Bumrah's economy rate of 8.36 marks the worst for him since the 2025 season (12.26). His debut season in 2013 is the only other time he recorded a worse economy rate (10.0), although he played only two matches that year. His tally of four wickets is the third-lowest for him in a single season, following his performances in 2013 and 2015, where he took three wickets each. Before this season, his least successful season after playing more than five matches was in 2011, where he managed just five wickets in 11 games, with an economy and average of 7.58 and 60.20, respectively. Despite these disappointing statistics, Bumrah's economy rate ranks fifth among bowlers who have bowled at least 30 overs this season, with only Sunil Narine (6.4), Axar Patel (8.05), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8.07), and Lungi Ngidi (8.3) performing better. Notably, Bumrah's economy rate is the best among MI bowlers in the 2026 season, as no other bowler for the franchise achieved a better rate.