New Delhi, May 27: In IPL 2026, veteran bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a crucial role in leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore to the finals. He has also made history by becoming the first Indian bowler to take 26 wickets in a single season.
After securing victory in the first qualifier match, Bhuvneshwar, the holder of the Purple Cap, credited his success to his coaching staff and support team. He stated, “I believe a significant part of our victory goes to the people working behind the scenes.”
Discussing how working with the support staff has aided his performance, Bhuvneshwar remarked, “It’s a collective effort. The experience we bring, including mine and Hazlewood’s, is one aspect. However, the minor contributions from the support staff should not be overlooked. If experienced players like Hazlewood and I are acknowledged and that strategy is implemented, it works for us. We have been doing this since the first match, and it has been very beneficial.”
When asked if RCB relies heavily on data, Bhuvneshwar responded, “We can say we are aware of the data. If players are trying something new, we certainly pay attention and attempt to adopt it. But we are not 100% dependent on data. However, it does help.”
On his bowling strategies, Bhuvneshwar explained, “As I mentioned, it’s part of the plan. If you look at that strategy, any short or full-length ball can go for boundaries. But yes, we try our best to give the batsmen no chances and aim for LBW or bowled outs. Therefore, this is a crucial part of our plan.”
Notably, while chasing a challenging target of 255 runs on a batting-friendly Dharamsala pitch, Gujarat lost wickets at regular intervals. Bhuvneshwar took 2 wickets for just 28 runs in 4 overs, making it easier for RCB to secure victory by dismissing Shubman Gill for only 2 runs. So far this season, Bhuvneshwar has taken 26 wickets for 472 runs in 15 matches.
Gill was dismissed for just two runs by Bhuvneshwar, while Jos Buttler’s quick 29 runs were the only highlight in the early struggle. Rahul Tewatia later fought back, scoring 68 runs off 43 balls.
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