Trent Boult has not been at his best this year. Image Credits: AFP
Trent Boult has been associated with several Mumbai Indians franchises across the globe over the years. Currently, he’s representing them in the IPL, MLC, The Hundred, and SA20.
In return, MI have shown ample trust in his abilities, backing him to do the job again and again. However, Boult’s recent returns have not been up to the mark in the IPL and also in other T20 leagues.
Trent Boult’s below-par performances in 2026
Trent Boult has been out of form in 2026
Trent Boult has represented four different Mumbai Indians franchises across T20 leagues in 2026, but his returns have been underwhelming throughout. Across 27 matches, he has managed only 22 wickets at an average of 39.36 and a strike rate of 25.86. He has also leaked 9.13 runs per over, conceded a boundary every 4.51 deliveries, and gone wicketless in 40.74% of his outings.
The lean run began in the SA20, where Boult claimed just six wickets at an average of 41.16 while conceding 9.88 runs per over in seven matches for MI Cape Town. His IPL 2026 campaign was even more disappointing, with Mumbai Indians giving him only five games, in which he picked up just two wickets at an economy rate of 11.62.
Things did not improve much in Major League Cricket either. Turning out for MI New York, Boult took only eight wickets in 10 matches, averaging 39.50 while maintaining an economy of 8.50. His stint with MI London in The Hundred has followed a similar pattern.
After opening the tournament with three economical spells, he has again struggled against stronger batting line-ups, conceding 11.05 runs per over against London Spirit and 9.60 against Manchester Super Giants. Overall, his impact with the ball has remained well below his usual standards.
Boult's decline in the powerplay phase explained
Trent Boult doesn't get enough wickets in the powerplay now
A major reason Mumbai Indians have employed Trent Boult across their franchises is his ability to strike with the new ball during the field restrictions. However, Boult is no longer the powerplay specialist he once was and rarely bowls attacking lengths anymore.
Instead, his focus has shifted towards containing runs throughout his spell rather than hunting wickets. In 2026, Boult has taken just seven powerplay wickets at an average of 66.66 and a strike rate of 46.66. He has also conceded 8.58 runs per over and a boundary every 4.17 deliveries in the first six overs.
As a result, teams have gradually reduced his powerplay workload. This year, only 56.89% of his deliveries have come in the first six overs, down from 60.84% in 2025 and 61.30% in 2024.
During the same period, Boult has worked on improving his yorkers to become more effective in the middle and slog overs. However, that transition has not yielded the desired results either, despite him frequently opting for more defensive lengths.
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In the middle overs, Boult has conceded 10.07 runs per over while allowing a boundary every 4.86 deliveries. At the death, he has leaked 9.64 runs per over and conceded a boundary every 5.19 deliveries.
In trying to become a more well-rounded T20 bowler, Boult has seemingly sacrificed the new-ball threat that once made him so valuable. Yet, the trade-off has brought little reward. Rather than becoming effective across all phases, he has ended up offering less impact overall, particularly on flatter surfaces.
Mumbai Indians should consider releasing Boult before IPL 2027
Mumbai Indians had one of the weakest new-ball pace attacks in IPL 2026. Their seamers managed just 14 wickets at an average of 49.86 in the powerplay, the fourth-worst return among all teams. They also conceded 10.42 runs per over and a boundary every 3.49 deliveries in the first six overs.
On paper, MI had enough new-ball specialists in Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, and Hardik Pandya. Yet, almost all of them struggled to make an impact, despite the ball swinging more consistently than in previous seasons.
That makes strengthening the powerplay attack a priority, and Boult should be among the players they consider releasing. Letting him go would free up INR 12.50 crore, money that could be invested in a bowler capable of providing regular breakthroughs upfront.
The franchise's own decisions suggest their faith in Boult has already diminished. He featured in only five matches during IPL 2026, while his old-ball skills are not reliable enough to justify an overseas spot on typically flat IPL surfaces.
MI already have Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya to handle the later phases, while Corbin Bosch also provides quality outside the powerplay.
Releasing Boult would also give Mumbai Indians greater flexibility at the auction or in the trade window. They could pursue options such as Khaleel Ahmed from CSK or Nandre Burger from RR, both left-arm pacers capable of striking with the new ball while also contributing in other phases. At this stage of his career, Boult may simply no longer offer enough to justify occupying an overseas slot.
Mumbai Indians desperately need to rebuild their powerplay bowling if they are to end a six-season trophy drought. That will require a few difficult decisions, and moving on from Trent Boult should be one of them.
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