India, May 6 -- Ravi Shastri has linked the dip in form of India's frontline fast bowlers in the Indian Premier League to mental fatigue, saying the constant grind of international cricket and franchise commitments eventually catches up even with the best players.

The former India head coach made the remark during commentary in the Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Punjab Kings match, at a time when Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have both had difficult IPL campaigns by their own standards. Bumrah's season has been the sharper concern, with the Mumbai Indians spearhead managing only three wickets in 10 matches, while Arshdeep has had an uneven campaign for Punjab Kings, mixing strong spells with expensive outings.

Bumrah's workload has been...