Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan commended Bhuvneshwar Kumar for maintaining his technical excellence in the IPL with consistent wrist control and repeatable action over 16 years. Bhuvneshwar, a key player for Royal Challengers Bangalore, currently leads the IPL 2026 wicket-taking chart with 21 scalps.
Pathan highlighted Bhuvneshwar’s unchanged action throughout his long IPL career, emphasizing his ability to hit desired areas with precise wrist positioning and seam control. He lauded Bhuvneshwar’s skill in executing match-winning performances, such as his recent 4-23 spell and crucial six in a tense chase for RCB.
With 219 wickets in 201 IPL matches at an average of 26.17 and an economy rate of 7.67, Bhuvneshwar’s impressive record includes two five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls, with a best bowling figure of 5/19. Recently, he marked his 200th IPL appearance against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar joined an elite group as only the second bowler to achieve 200 IPL wickets, following Yuzvendra Chahal in 2024. Notably, only four other bowlers have surpassed the 200-wicket mark in a T20 competition, all in England’s T20 Blast – Danny Briggs (268), Samit Patel (230), Chris Wood (210), and David Payne (210).
