Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes first pacer to reach 200 IPL wickets
The moment came in the second over of CSK's chase at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Bhuvneshwar Kumar dug in a hard-length delivery outside off stump that climbed sharply on Ayush Mhatre, who was cramped on the pull and could only pop the ball to Rajat Patidar at mid-off. A simple catch, a roar from the Bengaluru crowd, and 16 years of IPL toil had its reward.
A long road from the fringes
Bhuvneshwar's IPL story did not start with fanfare. Royal Challengers Bangalore handed him a contract in 2009 but never gave him an IPL appearance. After stints on the fringes, Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up for 4.25 crore at the 2014 auction. Few expected the quiet Uttar Pradesh seamer to become one of the tournament's most reliable bowlers.
He did more than that. In 11 seasons at Hyderabad, Bhuvneshwar took 157 wickets in 145 matches and became the only bowler in IPL history to win back-to-back Purple Caps, claiming 23 wickets in 2016 and 26 in 2017. He was central to Sunrisers' lone title triumph in 2016 and his best figures of five for 19 remain among the sharpest spells any pacer has produced in the competition.
Second wind at RCB
Released by SRH after the 2024 season, Bhuvneshwar found a fresh home when RCB bought him for 10.75 crore at the November 2024 auction. He repaid the investment immediately, picking up 17 wickets as RCB won their maiden IPL title in 2025.
On Sunday he went further, returning figures of three for 41 against CSK as RCB piled up 250 for three and then bowled their opponents out for 207. He now sits second on the all-time IPL wickets list with 200 from 192 matches at an average of 27.25 and an economy rate of 7.69. Only Yuzvendra Chahal, with 224 wickets in 176 matches, has more.
What sets him apart
Swing has always been Bhuvneshwar's calling card. While other pacers have relied on raw speed or variations, Bhuvneshwar has built his career on the ability to move the new ball in the powerplay and hit hard lengths at the death. His economy rate across 192 games speaks to that consistency. Very few pace bowlers have managed to survive 16 IPL seasons, let alone thrive across them.
At 36, there is no sign of Bhuvneshwar slowing down. RCB sit top of the IPL 2026 table after two wins from two, and their veteran seamer looks primed for another productive campaign.
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