Tymal Mills hails Indian cricket icons after a memorable IPL 2026 stint

When the dust settles after the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League, the conversation in the dressing rooms still echoes a simple sentiment from England’s own Tymal Mills – a feeling of gratitude mixed with a dash of awe. The 34‑year‑old left‑arm pacer, who now paces the ball for the Glasgow Cosmics in the European T20 Premier League, took a moment to single out three Indian stars who, in his words, epitomise the very best of modern white‑ball cricket.

“Virat and Rohit are two of the finest players the game has ever produced, especially in the shorter formats,” Mills said during a chat with the CREX network. “Playing alongside them was a lesson in itself – the way they handle pressure, the instinct they have for the moment – it’s something you carry with you long after the tournament ends.”

The English bowler’s admiration is rooted in two distinct chapters of his IPL journey. First, he arrived in Bangalore with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017, a season that was more about soaking up the atmosphere than making headlines. Then, five years later, he donned the famous blue of Mumbai Indians, sharing the net with a different set of legends, including the lethal Jasprit Bumrah.

Speaking of Bumrah, Mills didn’t hold back: “If you ask me who is the most complete fast bowler across formats right now, it’s Jasprit. I got to train alongside him at MI and you see the meticulousness, the repeatable action, the sheer skill. He can swing, seam and bowl at a genuine pace – and he does it in Tests, ODIs and T20s. In my view, he’s the best in the world today.”

For context, Bumrah’s numbers back up the claim. In 52 Tests he has 234 wickets at an average of 19.79, while in ODIs he has taken 151 scalps at 23.74, and his T20I figures sit at 123 wickets for an impressive 18.20 average. Those statistics, combined with his uncanny economy rates, make the Indian pacer a nightmare for any batting line‑up.

Mills also hinted at a possible return to the IPL, though he stopped short of making any concrete promises. “I’d love to be back in India and play the best cricket I can. My pace has been solid this year – I felt great in the SA20. I’m not looking too far ahead; I just want to stay fit, enjoy the game, and if the IPL calls again, that would be amazing.”

Looking back at his numbers, the English fast‑bowler’s IPL résumé reads modestly but respectably. In 2017, for RCB, he played five matches, snapping up five wickets at an average of 30.60 with an economy of 8.57. In 2022, with Mumbai Indians, he claimed six wickets in five games, averaging 31.66 and an economy of 11.17. Not blockbuster figures, but enough to earn the respect of teammates and opponents alike.

For Mills, the IPL has always been more than just a tournament – it’s a crucible where young talents and seasoned pros collide, and where a bowler like him can learn the subtle art of death‑overs bowling from the very best. Whether he returns to Indian soil or continues his T20 adventures in Europe, those lessons from Kohli, Sharma and Bumrah will surely stay with him for the rest of his career.