The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 was a rollercoaster of high-octane drama, but it didn’t all happen between the gates. As the tournament draws to a close, a new controversy draws in the past India the opener Virender Sehwag and a spearhead jasprit bumrah took the cricket world by storm.
Sehwag, who is known for his unfiltered approach to commentary and analysis, found himself in the crosshairs of a passionate fan following a verbal exchange during the live pre-match show. The incident not only sparked debate about the behavior of veteran players turned analysts, but also highlighted the intense pressure surrounding it. Mumbai Indians (MI) in one of his toughest seasons to date.
Virender Sehwag faced backlash for calling Jasprit Bumrah “Chumrah” on air.
The controversy took place during a live discussion on Cricbuzz. Mumbai Indians and Kings of the Punjab. Analyzing MI’s struggling bowling unit, Sehwag mistakenly referred to the world’s top-ranked Test bowler as ‘Chumrah’ instead of Bumrah.
Although the legendary batsman corrected himself within seconds, muttering, “Deepak Chahar is there, Shardul Thakur, Hardik Pandya, Chumrah, Bumrah,The damage was already done. In the digital age, the slip was clipped and shared within minutes, garnering millions of views on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
The reaction from the ‘Blue Brigade’ and general Indian cricket fans was swift and unforgiving. Many supporters felt the slip was disrespectful, especially given Bumrah’s reputation as a national hero. Critics have noted that while Sehwag is known for his witty Desi jokes, there is a fine line between humor and sarcasm. A viral post was polled on X, “Why do you hate Bumrah like a troll? Man, he won us World Cups.” The sentiment reflects the growing divide between the old guard of cricketers and the modern icons who currently carry the mantle of Indian cricket.
Also WATCH: Rising sensation Salil Arora delivers a stunning no-look six off Jasprit Bumrah in MI vs SRH
Here’s how the fans reacted:
🚨 VIRENDAR SEHWAG IS provoking JASPRIT BUMRAKH 🚨
– Virender Sehwag called Jasprit Bumrah ‘Chumrah’ instead of ‘Bumrah’ on Live TV. How can a person make such a big mistake? 😭🤯 pic.twitter.com/7vJajKs6j4
— Indian Sports Network (@IS_Netwrk29) May 14, 2026
https://x.com/TheCricketView/status/2054811919299846243
Virender Sehwag can’t even spell Jasprit Bumrah’s name correctly
“Chumra,” he says. pic.twitter.com/Fo9gkKJEqr
— Shah (@Shahhoon1) May 14, 2026
Virender Sehwag might be the only Indian opener without any filter 😭 pic.twitter.com/bF6K1qac3M
— 𝚅𝚞¹⁸ (@varunx18) May 14, 2026
JASPRIT BUMRAH WAS NOT “CHUMRAH” ON VIRENDER SEHWAQ LIVE TELEVISION😭
– What was from Sehwag? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ErYtnLn7NU
— Mohd Faizy (@ansarifaizy08) May 14, 2026
Virendra Sehwag just couldn’t own Bumrah like that 😭pic.twitter.com/wu2tdz35nP
— Shailesh🚩 (@SJ_speaks01) May 14, 2026
It’s not even the first time you call players with such slander. You are better than that. You are a legend @virendersehwag please act like one🙏 https://t.co/I5W4xVRCrp
— RandomCricketDude (@randomDude0511) May 14, 2026
I am 100% sure that Virender Sehwag is running a troll account calling Jasprit Bumrah as Chumrah and MS Dhoni as Dhobi 😭😭😭
Bro is a certified troll. https://t.co/kQKm6kL63t
— Maddy (@EvilRashford) May 14, 2026
Virender sehwag called Bumrah “chumrah”😂#TATAIPL2026 #indicricket pic.twitter.com/nvHKtSimrK
— RayyanBaig (@baigrayyan18) May 14, 2026
Chumrah 😂😂😂😂
How Sehwag hates Bumrah pic.twitter.com/q81ei9sWIi
— Rahul Raj (@RahulRajVerse) May 14, 2026
Sehwag says Bumrah is “Chumrah” 😭🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/hHxxlTvWzp
– cooked. (@KOHLIdeGOAT) May 14, 2026
Bumrah’s lean run in IPL 2026 results in MI’s elimination
While the Chumrah record has been the spark, the main tension has stemmed from Bumrah’s uncharacteristic struggle for form this season. For a bowler ranked No. 1 in the ICC Test Rankings with 879 rating points, his T20 numbers in 2026 were a shocking anomaly.
| Statistics | IPL 2026 Performance | Career IPL Avg |
| Matches | 11 | 156 |
| Doors | 3 | 186 |
| Economics degree | 8.51 | 7.33 |
| Bowling Medium | 116.33 | 23.54 |
| Holiday rate | 82.0 | 19.2 |
As can be seen from the data, Bumrah scored only 3 goals in 11 matches and remained scoreless in eight of these appearances. Like legends Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan have noted that Bumrah is trying too much, his slower ball percentage jumps to around 44%, which has significantly reduced his effective pace.
Lack of ‘Boom Boom’ magic at the death has been a major factor in Mumbai Indians’ downfall. Currently in 9th place with only 3 wins from 11 games, the five-time champions have been officially eliminated from the playoff race. For fans, seeing the biggest bowling asset struggle while being blundered on air made the 2026 season a bitter pill to swallow. As MI looks at a major overhaul, the Jumrah affair remains a shining example of how quickly the narrative can turn when even the world’s best are in decline.
Also READ: Sunil Gavaskar targets MI star Jasprit Bumrah for blunder against LSG in IPL 2026
