Class and experience can’t be faked in Twenty20 cricket, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2026 have underlined that point. The right-arm seamer has emerged as a key figure for the defending champions, and he will be looking to deliver one more sharp spell in the title clash against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Ahead of the high-stakes game, the 36-year-old received special praise from Sachin Tendulkar, who highlighted Bhuvneshwar’s ability to adapt and keep expanding the options in his bowling toolkit.
Bhuvneshwar’s season and Tendulkar’s praise
- Bhuvneshwar is currently the second-leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026, having taken 26 wickets in 15 matches while maintaining an economy rate of eight runs per over.
- Tendulkar pointed out that the pacer has been operating with consistent line and length, which has made it harder for batters to read whether the ball will move into the batter or away from him.
- The Master Blaster noted that Bhuvneshwar’s approach in the season has focused on straight deliveries rather than relying only on classic patterns, creating uncertainty for opponents.
- Since his last appearance for India came in 2022, Bhuvneshwar’s impact has still been prominent in the IPL, particularly during the powerplay where RCB have depended on early breakthroughs.
- Tendulkar said Bhuvneshwar has been tough to dislodge in the opening overs, and that his initial spells have helped RCB keep control during the first six overs of the contest.
- Even in matches where Josh Hazlewood and Jacob Duffy have conceded runs, Bhuvneshwar has repeatedly found ways to step up and maintain pressure.
- In Tendulkar’s breakdown, he explained that in earlier phases Bhuvneshwar often used longer in-swinging or out-swinging seam positions, but this year the seam is “wobbly,” making the ball’s movement harder to predict for batters.
In a video shared on X, Tendulkar said Bhuvneshwar has been bowling exceptionally well and that his development this season has been in the seam’s behaviour. He added that when the seam wobbles, even a set batter struggles to judge whether the ball will come in or go out. Tendulkar also emphasised how accurate Bhuvneshwar’s lines have been throughout the campaign, calling that consistency his success formula and praising him for it.
Tendulkar’s comments also came with context about the technical detail behind Bhuvneshwar’s effectiveness: to bowl a lengthy swing, the seam typically has to be directed towards the first slip or leg slip, but Tendulkar said the seam has been different this season—adding that extra layer of doubt for the hitter.
Virat Kohli on what makes Bhuvneshwar special
Before Tendulkar’s assessment, Virat Kohli—former RCB captain—had already explained why Bhuvneshwar stands out. Kohli argued that Bhuvneshwar doesn’t look to deliver “banana” inswingers or outswingers on demand; instead, he targets the length that forces batters to decide early whether they can consistently meet it. Kohli framed it as a battle of repeated execution: if the bowler keeps landing the hardest length to hit, the batter must prove he is good enough to take him on, ball after ball.
On RCB’s podcast, Kohli described the core of Bhuvneshwar’s craft as repetition and execution, backed by belief rather than complications. He also pointed to the results, noting that Bhuvneshwar has managed six three-wicket hauls in 11 matches—an output Kohli called remarkable.
RCB’s title chase and a familiar venue
From the team perspective, RCB head into the summit match chasing a second IPL championship. Coincidentally, the franchise also lifted its first-ever IPL trophy at the same venue last year, after beating Punjab Kings. With that history at Narendra Modi Stadium and Bhuvneshwar’s form in the spotlight, RCB will be hoping experience and accuracy come together again when it matters most.
