Bhuvneshwar Kumar is turning into “sort of an artist now”, and Ambati Rayudu didn’t hold back on the praise after the veteran pacer produced a decisive spell in Raipur. His four-wicket burst checked Mumbai Indians’ momentum in the first innings, and when the chase was finely poised, Bhuvneshwar’s finishing touch with the bat helped set up—and then seal—an RCB triumph over MI in their IPL 2026 playoff-race encounter.
What Bhuvneshwar’s spell changed
With Mumbai batting first, Bhuvneshwar’s strike ensured the batting side never fully settled. He struck at key moments to stall MI’s progress, leaving them exposed as the innings wore on.
- His bowling attack began early: Ryan Rickelton was caught out on the first over when he mistimed an attempted shot to a good-length ball at mid-off.
- In the second over, Rohit Sharma misread a knuckle delivery, edging it behind.
- The next breakthrough followed a familiar pattern for Bhuvneshwar: Suryakumar Yadav chased a pitched-up ball that swung late, only to edge it to Virat Kohli at slip.
- The fourth wicket arrived in the 18th over when Tilak Varma’s attempted scoop resulted in a nick that rearranged the stumps.
By the end of his spell, Bhuvneshwar had figures of 4 for 23. That haul moved him to 21 wickets and the top spot on the Purple Cap table at the conclusion of the round.
Closing moments in the chase
When the match moved into the run chase, the contest tightened. At a stage that Rayudu described as roughly a 55-45 split in RCB’s favour, the final over became pivotal. Bhuvneshwar struck a six off a yorker that arrived over the off-side channel, bringing RCB right up to the brink of victory.
It was Rasikh Salam who ultimately held his nerve to finish the job for RCB, denying Mumbai the finish they needed to keep their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive.
Rayudu and Dasgupta explain the “artist” tag
Rayudu pointed to how Bhuvneshwar’s skill is amplified on certain surfaces, particularly where the ball’s movement and bounce make conventional batting plans difficult.
After RCB eliminated MI from the IPL 2026 playoffs race, Rayudu said that Bhuvneshwar’s lethal streak comes from his ability—especially on pitches where deliveries are more likely to find the stumps. He noted that on bouncy tracks batters can sometimes survive because the ball skids past, but on these kinds of surfaces the threat increases, leading to dismissal either lbw or caught behind. Rayudu also highlighted Bhuvneshwar’s command of variations, including a beautiful slower ball against Rohit Sharma and a “lucky” ball that consistently swerves away. That combination, Rayudu felt, is why the bowler is “becoming sort of an artist now”.
Deep Dasgupta added a different angle, linking Bhuvneshwar’s current effectiveness to how he releases the ball. He compared the present phase to the bowler’s peak years in the mid-2010s, when he played regularly for India and topped the Purple Cap twice in succession for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 and 2017.
- Dasgupta said the skill set has always been there, but that because Bhuvneshwar isn’t the quickest through the air, the release timing is what can cost or restore pace off the pitch.
- He suggested Bhuvneshwar has “got it back again”, praising his release during the match against MI.
- Dasgupta pointed to the backspin on the ball, which he believes is part of what makes the deliveries bite.
- He also explained that the release can be hard to spot on TV, but batters can feel it—getting hurried even when the pace is around 133–134 kph, which makes them arrive late to their shots.
- That, in Dasgupta’s view, is the clearest sign that the release is back.
Bhuvneshwar’s own reaction and the cricket IQ behind the bat
After the game, Bhuvneshwar was asked what made him happiest—his wickets or the notable shot off Raj Angad Bawa. He replied “six, for sure”, adding that while he has bowled well and taken wickets before, he enjoyed that particular moment most.
Rayudu and Dasgupta then connected that shot to Bhuvneshwar’s cricket intelligence. Rayudu said Bhuvi plays the ball over the covers, claiming he has seen him clear the boundary in that region earlier. He added that Bawa delivered exactly where Bhuvneshwar wanted, and noted that Bhuvi still found a way to execute it properly, “first ball”.
Dasgupta extended the theme to the next delivery as well. He described how Bawa bowled a slower ball, which Bhuvneshwar sent to long-off. A quick second run might have been possible, but non-striker Rasikh Salam looked to take it. However, Bhuvneshwar declined, and Dasgupta implied that this decision prevented a scenario where, if he had been run out attempting the second, Josh Hazlewood would have faced the last ball instead.
Wrapping up, Dasgupta said the conversation around Bhuvneshwar is always about his skill, but that longevity and success also come from cricket brains—his cricket IQ. He cited the six and the single that followed as a perfect example, especially because it denied Rasikh Salam the chance to get running for the second.
