NEW DELHI: A fresh wave of attention has swept through social media as a resurfaced video shows former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik lavishing praise on Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The clip has re-emerged just as the veteran speedster delivered a match-winning spell for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026.
The renewed buzz comes with an important milestone on the horizon. Bhuvneshwar is set to make a landmark 200th IPL appearance on Friday, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Lucknow Super Giants. In the build-up to that milestone, RCB also posted a behind-the-scenes segment featuring Karthik and head coach Andy Flower discussing what makes the experienced pacer special.
Quick facts
- Dinesh Karthik’s viral video praises Bhuvneshwar Kumar highly
- Karthik said Bhuvneshwar is “the best bowler India has after Bumrah”
- The praise clip was shared by RCB on its social media channels
- Bhuvneshwar is scheduled to play his 200th IPL match on Friday vs Lucknow Super Giants
- On Sunday in Raipur, he helped RCB beat Mumbai Indians by two wickets in a last-ball thriller
- His bowling figures vs MI were 4/23, and he hit a key six in the final over
- Ravichandran Ashwin later backed a return for Bhuvneshwar in India’s T20I setup
- In IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar leads the Purple Cap race with 21 wickets in 11 matches
- He also has the best economy rate among the top wicket-takers this season
- Earlier in the week, he became the first fast bowler to reach 200 IPL matches
In the viral segment, Karthik was emphatic about Bhuvneshwar’s place in Indian cricket. “Just for the record, I am convinced that he is the best bowler India has after Bumrah even today. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the best T20 bowler,” the wicketkeeper-batter said as the conversation with Andy Flower played out.
The timing of the clip’s comeback has been particularly striking. On Sunday, in Raipur, Bhuvneshwar produced a vintage performance that helped RCB pull off a dramatic two-wicket win over MI in a finish that went down to the final delivery.
Facing a surface that offered movement and uneven bounce, the pacer struck early and hard. He ripped through Mumbai’s top order, registering figures of 4/23 and removing Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav during a devastating opening spell.
With the chase tightening and pressure mounting, Bhuvneshwar didn’t stop at the ball. He contributed with the bat as well, smashing a crucial six in the last over to swing the contest firmly in RCB’s favour and seal the win.
Ashwin backs a T20I call-up
The impact of Bhuvneshwar’s display quickly spilled beyond franchise cricket. After the performance, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin pushed for the veteran to be considered again for the national T20I set-up.
“Hashtag ‘BringBackBhuvi’, I’d love to see him being considered for the T20I side,” Ashwin said on JioStar, adding fresh fuel to the growing chorus around Bhuvneshwar’s resurgence.
Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar’s IPL 2026 campaign continues to build momentum at the business end of the tournament. He currently tops the Purple Cap standings with 21 wickets from 11 matches, while also boasting the tournament’s best economy rate among the leading wicket-takers.
He has also been making history off the pitch of late. Earlier in the week, Bhuvneshwar scripted a major milestone by becoming the first fast bowler to feature in 200 IPL matches—further underlining his standing as one of the competition’s finest pacers.
As the season rolls on, fans will be watching closely to see whether Bhuvneshwar can carry this form into his next outing and keep RCB’s momentum moving—while the wider debate about his T20I future grows louder with every performance.
