Veteran India speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar is on the verge of an IPL milestone that has never been reached by a fast bowler before. On Thursday, he is set to become only the 12th player in the tournament’s history to turn out in 200 matches, and Virat Kohli, his fellow RCB teammate, described the feat as “remarkable.”
The occasion comes during RCB’s match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. For Bhuvneshwar, it will be his 200th appearance in the IPL, a mark that has previously been achieved by 11 players. Notably, all of those earlier names have been Indian, yet none were specialist pace bowlers.
That group of 11 includes seven top-order batters, two wicketkeeper-batters and two spin-bowling all-rounders, highlighting how unusual it is for a frontline fast bowler to reach such longevity in the league. Dwayne Bravo has been the closest among pacers, with 161 games, though the former West Indies all-rounder ended his IPL career in 2022.
Among players still active, the next closest pace option is Hardik Pandya with 160 appearances, while Jasprit Bumrah follows with 155 matches, placing Bhuvneshwar at the front of a rare conversation even before he crosses the 200-game threshold.
Kohli’s tribute ahead of the 200th IPL game
Before RCB takes on LSG, Kohli highlighted what makes Bhuvneshwar stand out—his long career, his understanding of the game and his ability to deliver consistently. Kohli even placed him among the top three fast bowlers in IPL history.
“It’s a huge achievement to play 200 IPL games, especially as a fast bowler. That speaks volumes about his longevity and consistency. He has played so much cricket across formats and has remained successful throughout,” Kohli said in a video shared by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Kohli added, “The thing that has always stood out about Bhuvi is his understanding of the game and his cricket intelligence. He is definitely among the top three pacers in IPL history. When you look at his economy rate, the wickets he has taken, and the number of dot balls he delivers every match, it is truly remarkable. He is someone you can rely on under pressure every single time.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL record and impact
Known as one of India’s leading swing bowlers, Bhuvneshwar has been effective with both the new and the older ball. He made his IPL debut in 2011 and, with 199 matches before Thursday, has taken 215 wickets. He also remains the only fast bowler to reach the 200-wicket milestone in the tournament.
In the all-time wicket tally, Bhuvneshwar currently sits second, with his spot behind Yuzvendra Chahal, who has 229 wickets.
On the title front, Bhuvneshwar has won the IPL twice. His first triumph came with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, and his second came after he was part of RCB’s title-winning side in 2025.
He is also the only bowler to claim consecutive Purple Caps—taking 23 wickets in 2016 and 26 in 2017. Another notable IPL record in his name is the most dot balls bowled, with 1793 deliveries that have gone unpunished.
Earlier, Bhuvneshwar joined RCB for INR 10.75 crore ahead of the last season. In that campaign, he finished with 17 wickets and played a key role in helping the franchise secure its first IPL title.
This season, he has already matched that 17-wicket tally in just nine games. He is operating at an economy rate of 7.54 and currently holds the Purple Cap as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
