Mumbai Indians need more support from bowling attack to make a comeback: Sanjay Bangar

Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar has analysed that Mumbai Indians' batters have been performing exceptionally in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026; however, their bowlers haven't been able to reciprocate something similar. According to Bangar, it is becoming a major concern for MI in the mega-tournament as they are placed ninth on the points table with only a couple of matches won out of eight.

Bangar further believes that the biggest headache for the five-time champions is the way their bowling attack is faltering and leaking runs, especially with Jasprit Bumrah not being able to deliver at his full potential. A better performance by their bowling attack may be the only way for MI to bounce back in IPL 2026, according to Bangar.

“There are positives in the batting, especially with the energy at the top from players like Ryan Rickelton. Even if Rohit Sharma returns, the batting combination looks flexible. However, they still need contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, who hasn’t fired consistently," Bangar said via JioStar.

"With Tilak Varma in good form, the batting is not a major concern. The bigger issue is bowling. Mumbai Indians’ success has always been built on strong bowling units. They showed signs of swing, which is a positive, but they need more support in that department to get back into the tournament,” he concluded.

He stays still, understands the plan, and watches the ball very closely: Bangar on Salil Arora

While MI's bowlers were at the mercy of SRH's bludgeoning, it was Salil Arora who held his nerve under pressure and launched a scathing attack to finish the proceedings with a blistering cameo, scoring an unbeaten 30 off just 10 balls. According to Bangar, executing the batting the way Arora did against MI was something of a very commendable quality about the youngster.

“He stays still, understands the plan, and watches the ball very closely. When he looks to attack, he commits fully to his shots. To execute those shots in a brief 7–8 ball innings is a special skill. It reflects the way players train today, preparing to make an impact in very few deliveries. That’s a standout quality in his batting,” the former India cricketer concluded.