![Bhuvneshwar Kumar channels inner Virat Kohli [Source: screengrab, AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1780239023560_Bhuvneshwar_Kumar_channels_inner_Virat_Kohli.jpg?type=hq)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar channels inner Virat Kohli [Source: screengrab, AFP]
Bhuvneshwar Kumar made instant impact with the ball for the RCB franchise in the final of the IPL 2026 season. Opening the bowling alongside Jacob Duffy, the speedster dismissed Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan inside the powerplay overs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
While Bhuvneshwar inched closer to the season’s ‘Purple Cap’ race with his opening strike, the seasoned pro seems to be struggling on the field. In the fifth over of the Titans innings, the cricketer fumbled inside the ring and let the ball through the boundary ropes.
Annoyed by his misfield, the 36-year-old channeled his inner Virat Kohli by throwing a slur that pretty much rhymes with the cricketer’s English rival, Ben Stokes.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar resorts to expletives in IPL 2026 final
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was stationed inside the inner circle by his RCB skipper Rajat Patidar during the fifth over of the Gujarat Titans innings.
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Fielding at short third, the senior RCB fast bowler failed to collect the ball and let it go through the boundary after Titans’ number three Nishant Sindhu had stabbed Josh Hazlewood’s delivery with an open face of the bat.
The forgotten Team India star, gutted by his fielding misfortune, yelled out an aggressive slur that rhymes with England Test skipper Ben Stokes.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar inches closer to Kagiso Rabada
Bhuvneshwar Kumar started off his opening spell in the IPL 2026 final with the huge wicket of prolific Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan. The dismissal marked Kumar’s 27th wicket this season, as the senior paceman extended his tally to within touching distance for the wicket-taking race.
In doing so, he inched closer to Gujarat Titans fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who is currently occupying the ‘Purple Cap’ of the season with 28 victims in just 17 innings at an impressive bowling average of 20.78.
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If Bhuvneshwar manages to pick up two more wickets in the game, and if Rabada goes wicketless in the RCB innings, the legendary Indian fast bowler will become the first cricketer in IPL history to bag the coveted ‘Purple Cap’ thrice in his career.
Gujarat Titans rocked early in IPL 2026 final
Hosts Gujarat Titans have been rocked early on the big day at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, May 31. Getting invited to bat first by RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, the Titans lost both openers, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill inside the powerplay to Bhuvneshwar and Josh Hazlewood respectively.
Jos Buttler at number four struck one boundary in his sluggish 23-ball knock of just 19, while Nishant Sandhu made 20 off 18 balls. Both well-set batters were eventually dismissed by Krunal Pandya and Rasikh Salam respectively as the Titans reached a troublesome 73-4 in 12.1 overs.
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