Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has come down heavily on Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar and urged Mumbai Indians to pay the two cricketers and send them home for the rest of the IPL 2026 season.
In their last match against Punjab Kings on April 16, Mumbai Indians posted 195 but PBKS made light work of the target by gunning it down in 16.2 overs. After the poor bowling performance, Srikkanth criticised Thakur and Chahar and said both the bowlers do not deserve a place in the playing XI.
“I don’t know how MI are playing Deepak Chahar in the XI. I don’t know why they retained him. First over, he gave away 21 runs. In the previous match, it was 22 runs. 2.3 overs, 45 runs,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube show.
“Our sir, Shardul Thakur. Three overs, 42 runs. Combined, they bowled 5.3 overs and 87 runs.
“How can you win a match if two of your important bowlers are giving away 87 runs in 5.3 overs? How can you play both of them in the XI? I asked that question in the pre-match show? Are you saying they don’t have any good bowling options?
“Send them home. Pay them their money and request them not to return this season. Tell them if they are needed, they will be called. Yes, you can do this. It’s not wrong,” he added.
The former selection committee chairman also questioned the Mumbai Indians’ decision not to rest Jasprit Bumrah at the start of the season. He felt this was important, especially since Bumrah came into IPL 2026 after a busy T20 World Cup. So far, Bumrah hasn’t taken a single wicket in five matches, and in the game against Punjab Kings, he had a tough outing, giving away 41 runs in his four overs without picking up a wicket.
“Five matches wicketless. He got hit also. He needs a mental break and physical break. He gave his life and was at the peak of his prowess in the T20 World Cup. He was in the running for the Player of the Tournament award. They are now overburdening him,” Srikkanth said. “I don’t understand how I rated this bowling attack 9.5 at the start of the season. Even if they had scored 500, the opposition would have chased it. That’s how bad their bowling attack is,” he added.
MI started their IPL 2026 campaign with a win but have lost four consecutive matches after that. The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians will next face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Monday.
