The wait is almost over. IPL 2026 is about to start March 28and the excitement around this release is hard to miss. With ten teams, 84 matches and a packed schedule spread across two stages, this promises to be the biggest IPL yet. Among the ten franchises poised for another shot at glory, Mumbai Indians (MI) always attracts special attention. The five-time champions have not lifted the trophy since 2020 and with a star-studded squad, there is widespread belief that this could finally be their year again.
MI will begin their IPL 2026 campaign at home against Kolkata Knight Riders about March 29 too Wankhede Stadiumand the noise around their preparations could not be ignored. But not everyone is ready to give them a clean bill of health just yet. A legendary voice from the world of cricket has expressed concern and MI fans would do well to take heed.
AB de Villiers calls MI bowling line-up weak point
Ahead of IPL 2026, the former South African batsman spoke on his YouTube channel AB de Villiers he pointed to his left arm pacer Trent Boult As his biggest concern for Mumbai Indians. compared to De Villiers Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s The drop in pace has meant Boult has lost yardage and is not as threatening as he was in his peak years between 2018 and 2020. He also pointed out that Boult has been leaking more runs of late and warned that MI may have a false sense of security when it comes to their bowling depth, adding that this is an area that could define them as opponents.
This is a pointed observation from someone who understands the game at the highest level. The concern is not unreasonable. While Boult was MI’s leading wicket-taker last season with 22 wickets, he conceded runs with almost nine saves, a number that can hurt a team a lot in T20 cricket, especially in the middle innings and at the death.
Boult holds the record for most wickets to open an IPL innings with 31, and his left-arm angle and ability to swing the new ball have long made him one of the most dangerous power bowlers in the competition. But de Villiers’ view is that the version of Boult who can’t play at the top of the innings is no longer the threat he once was. Batters walk with a game plan against him, this partnership jasprit bumrah may appear more sensitive than it appears on paper.
“It’s Trent Boult that worries me. It’s similar to Bhuvi’s situation where he’s lost his yard. He’s not as seasoned as he was in 2018 to 2020. He’s looked more expensive lately. MI probably feel they have a lot of insurance there, but maybe that’s a false sense of security. It could be a certain target zone.” De Villiers said.
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Expectations are high from the five-time champions
Despite the concern over Boult, Mumbai Indians are on the whole heading into IPL 2026. Former India opener Abhinav Mukund Portraying MI as a dominant force on paper, he highlights the number of in-form players in the squad and hints at their additions. Quinton de Kock as a particularly powerful move. He noted that the squad is so full that there is even one player Shardul Thakur quality may struggle to find a place in an eleven that says everything about the depth available.
Especially the batting order Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandyaand de Kock are among the most star-scored in the competition. If Bumrah is fully fit and firing alongside Boult and Deepak ChaharMI has the firepower to go all the way. But de Villiers’ warning serves as a timely reminder that on paper, what actually happens in the middle is something else.
The hunger is clearly there for a team that hasn’t won a title in five years. One of the most interesting sub-plots of IPL 2026 will be whether the bowling will last in a long tournament.
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