In Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala, Shubman Gill tried to swing Bhuvneshwar Kumar away through the line, but the pacer’s delivery nipped in from a good length and disturbed the stumps of Gujarat Titans captain. The dismissal looked routine, yet it captured what has made Bhuvneshwar so valuable this season: an old-fashioned approach, built on accuracy and timing, that keeps producing results even in a league dominated by big hitting.
Bhuvneshwar’s precision and Purple Cap push
The 36-year-old has emerged as a leading contender for the Purple Cap this year, already collecting 26 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 8. Among the top 20 wicket-takers, only Jason Holder (7.63) has been more economical than Bhuvneshwar, underscoring how consistently he has managed runs while still taking wickets.
- Bhuvneshwar has taken 26 wickets at an economy rate of 8.
- Only Jason Holder (7.63) is thriftier among the top 20 bowlers.
- He has 12 wickets in the Power Play, with an economy of around 7.
- Those early strikes have helped fuel Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s march to a second consecutive IPL final.
From doubts about pace to a T20 wicket-taking weapon
For a long time, Bhuvneshwar was viewed by many as a bowler who might struggle in T20 cricket because of questions over his pace. That narrative has flipped dramatically: he has become the league’s second-highest wicket-taker with 222 wickets. The bigger challenge now is staying influential in an era where batters routinely target boundaries early and often.
How the RCB bowling coach explains his evolution
RCB bowling coach Omkar Salvi pointed to the way Bhuvneshwar adapts his game depending on match context. He said the bowler’s skill set is not one-dimensional, and that teams plan around those strengths.
Salvi highlighted how Bhuvneshwar approaches different phases of an innings, explaining that the new ball invites a focus on swing and that his variations at the death are equally purposeful. He also noted that the pacer’s ability to mix changes is reinforced by adding a useful yorker to make him harder to hit when the game reaches its most brutal phase.
- Salvi said Bhuvneshwar is bowling with the new ball to explore swing.
- He added that at the death, Bhuvneshwar uses variations effectively.
- He said Bhuvneshwar’s approach depends on the phase he is operating in.
- Salvi noted that Bhuvneshwar has added a handy yorker recently, helping him in the death overs.
The knuckle ball: a delivery that changes everything
Yet, Salvi believes nothing is as deceptive as Bhuvneshwar’s knuckle ball. The pacer developed it after watching former India speedster Zaheer Khan. The method is unusual: Bhuvneshwar grips the seam using the tips of his index and middle fingers, curling the knuckles in. It may be awkward in the hand and in the release, but it produces extreme wobble and a sudden dip that can derail batters—especially when they’re looking to line up for a big strike.
Rohit Sharma, the veteran Mumbai Indians batter, has been on the receiving end of that kind of trouble. He had intended a trademark thump through the covers, only for a 116 kmph wider knuckle ball to take the edge of his bat and carry it safely into the gloves of Jitesh Sharma.
Bhuvneshwar also explained how deliberate the plan is. He said a lot of thinking goes into when to use the knuckle ball, that it isn’t random, and that it depends on how the pitch behaves. When there is seam or swing in the opening overs, he tries to extract it early. If the wicket slows and the ball tends to stay down on the surface, he may bring the knuckle ball into play. In his view, the mindset is the same as modern batting—being proactive rather than reactive.
What teammates and former players say about his brain and fitness
The value of Bhuvneshwar’s variations goes beyond trickery. The constant changes add to his natural ability to swing the ball both ways, keeping batters uncertain for long spells. More than that, the willingness to keep adding new contours to his bowling reflects a hunger to improve.
Praveen Kumar—former India pacer and a close confidant of Bhuvneshwar—expanded on the mental side. He argued that Bhuvneshwar can outthink a batter easily, using experience to gauge a hitter’s mindset and to map out dismissals while adjusting the field to match his strengths. Praveen also suggested that over time Bhuvneshwar’s speed control has improved, saying he can now bowl in the early 140s, something that wasn’t true earlier. He added that this allows the bowler to beat a batsman for pace in conditions that suit that style.
Salvi further said Bhuvneshwar worked hard on his fitness ahead of this IPL season to handle the grind through harsh summer days. Salvi said that with the experience he has, Bhuvneshwar understands his body well, knows which fitness elements need attention, and has worked consistently on them—something reflected in his bowling.
What RCB’s title defence could hinge on
RCB’s title defence on Sunday—either against Gujarat Titans or Rajasthan Royals—will have a direct bearing on how often Bhuvneshwar delivers breakthroughs at the right time. If the pitch at the venue provides the same kind of grip it has offered on most occasions this season, it could set up a high-stakes contest of tactics between Bhuvneshwar and the batters.
