Dale Steyn, the former South African fast bowler, has come to the defense of Jasprit Bumrah following his lackluster performance in the IPL 2026 season. Despite Bumrah's struggles, which saw him take only four wickets in 13 matches and end with a T20 record bowling average of 102.50, Steyn highlighted Bumrah's significant contribution to India's recent victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Steyn noted that even top players faced challenges during the IPL, stating that Bumrah's poor season simply demonstrates that he is human. He expressed optimism that Bumrah will recover and perform exceptionally in the next season, even suggesting he could contend for the Purple Cap. Bumrah's disappointing season came as a surprise given his stellar performance in the World Cup, where he was a standout bowler. To aid his recovery, Bumrah has been rested for India's upcoming home series against the Afghanistan cricket team, allowing him to regain full fitness ahead of a busy international schedule later this year.