RCB vs CSK: Bhuvaneshwar Kumar Becomes First Fast Bowler To Take 200 Wickets In IPL

RCB vs CSK: Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has become the first fast bowler in IPL history to take 200 wickets. At the age of 36, it is a testament to the longevity and evolving skillset of Kumar in an unforgiving environment that has taken him to such a remarkable feat.

When Kumar first emerged onto the scene, he was a perfect swing bowler, capable of taking wickets during the power play. However, over the years, he has moulded his craft and become a reliable death-over specialist as well, courtesy of the remarkable use of knuckleball and the toe-crushing yorkers.

Bhuvi's IPL 2025 Career

During the last season of the IPL, much of the spotlight fell on Josh Hazlewood, whose hard-length bowling was central to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinching their first title. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar made a significant impact away from the headlines, finishing with 17 wickets in 14 matches.

While he remained highly effective with the new ball, Bhuvneshwar also delivered at the death, claiming seven wickets in the final overs-one more than Hazlewood. His decisive spell in the final against Punjab Kings proved pivotal, particularly a two-wicket 17th over where he dismissed Nehal Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis, helping RCB edge a closely fought contest.

Steering The Ship In IPL 2026

However, with Hazelwood sidelined in the opening few matches in this year's IPL, the onus has fallen on the shoulders of Bhuvi to lead the bowling for RCB. In the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he bowled overs 2, 4, 18, and 20 and conceded just 31 runs, even as the batters were on an all-out attack.

Even in the nets, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the standout performer among Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bowlers. On the eve of their opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli were dominating most of the attack, but neither managed to take control against Bhuvneshwar. His clever variations, ranging from back-of-a-length deliveries to cutters and pinpoint yorkers, kept both batters in check.

Bhuvi vs Samson

With the game against Chennai Super Kings, Bhuvi will be looking at Sanju Samson and the 200th wicket in sight. In the past, Bhuvaneshwar has dismissed Samson four times in the IPL and will look to extend the dominating

Bhuvi's IPL Career

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's journey in the Indian Premier League can be broadly divided into distinct phases. He began with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009 and 2010 but did not feature in a single match. A move to Pune Warriors India followed, where he spent three relatively quiet seasons before finding his true footing with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

His golden run came between 2014 and 2017, when he emerged as one of the most effective bowlers in the league. During this period, he claimed 87 wickets, the highest by any bowler while maintaining an impressive economy of 7.25. He also etched his name in history by winning consecutive Purple Caps in 2016 and 2017, a feat unmatched, and cemented his place in the national setup.

However, his form dipped between 2018 and 2022, managing only 43 wickets across 56 innings. Although his economy remained respectable at 7.64, his wicket-taking ability declined noticeably. A turnaround began from IPL 2023 onwards, with Bhuvneshwar rediscovering his rhythm, picking up 45 wickets in 45 innings. While his economy has risen to 8.97, it reflects the increasingly high-scoring nature of the modern T20 game.