“Overdependence On Bumrah, Confidence Missing”: Kumble-Harbhajan Flag MI’s Struggles As Playoff Concerns Hang By A Thread

Mumbai Indians face an early exit in the TATA IPL 2026. The five-time champions have not turned things around in the second half. On JioStar's 'TATA IPL: Out or Not Out', Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh analysed the slide, highlighting overreliance on Jasprit Bumrah and poor team body language.

Harbhajan said the Mumbai Indians depend too much on Bumrah. He felt that other bowlers were not backing him enough. He named Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar,r and Hardik Pandya as low on confidence. According to him, that support system needs repair inside the camp.

Harbhajan also pointed to a spin issue. He said, "Spinners, too, are a concern. I think the biggest weakness of this side is the lack of quality local spinners." He added that the Mumbai Indians earlier had good Indian spinners, but see "a major gap" now.

Body language and leadership questions

Harbhajan was also struck by the team's body language. He said this was unlike any season he remembered. He recalled a year where the Mumbai Indians lost five in a row. Yet he felt the will to fight was stronger even then.

Harbhajan said, "Right now, that confidence is missing." He wanted someone to step up and reset the mood. He stressed that one player must lead and tell the group to react better on the field and move forward together from this point.

Batting struggles and the nature of defeats

Kumble agreed that Bumrah remains the number one bowler. But he said Mumbai's batting has not covered for poor bowling. He felt there was a clear lack of confidence in the middle order. For him, there is not enough intent or fearlessness with the bat.

Kumble noted the Mumbai Indians' history of comebacks. He said, "If any team can come back from a situation like this, it is them." But he underlined that the margins hurt. Earlier slow starts still saw close games. Now, he said, they are "getting beaten comfortably."

Mumbai Indians now meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Revenge Week. The TATA IPL 2026 match is scheduled for today at 7:30 PM. The fixture will be shown live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network, as both sides seek a crucial result in their campaigns.