Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has said that a few of the established Indian bowlers who have played non-stop over the past months are visibly fatigued and the workload is showing in their performances in IPL 2026.
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Shastri remarked on the commentary during the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings clash, at a time when ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have endured below-par IPL campaigns.
Bumrah’s struggles have been more pronounced, with the Mumbai Indians spearhead managing just three wickets in 10 games. At the same time, Arshdeep has had an inconsistent run for PBKS, alternating between brilliant spells and expensive outings.
Bumrah’s workload has been a recurring talking
point since his return from back trouble, with India managing him across formats. BCCI has remained cautious, given its packed 2025-26 schedule that included heavy red-ball commitments ahead of the T20 World Cup and IPL 2026.
Arshdeep remains a key left-arm option in India’s white-ball plans in the T20 setup. While his IPL campaign has not been a failure, it has lacked the consistency expected of him at the death, where his role demands repeated execution under pressure.
“Just seeing the way the season has panned out and seeing some of the established bowlers who have played a lot of cricket through the season, played for India, played World Cups, all this stuff… showing signs of mental fatigue,” Shastri said while commentating.
The remark was directed at Bumrah, whose IPL 2026 performance has dipped compared to his usual high standards. Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack has faced challenges throughout the season and his reduced wicket tally has been noticeable given the consistency and impact he has delivered over the years for both his franchise and the nation.
“Now, you must remember these guys are human. And it does take its toll. It isn’t that they can, on a day off, go to a petrol station, fill some gas and get into the groove again the next day,” Shastri said.
