RCB's Bhuvneshwar Kumar Turns Back The Clock To Create New IPL Record

Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL 2026 [Source: AFP]

Just when people had started talking more about age than ability, Bhuvneshwar Kumar rolled back the years and showed everyone why he has been one of the finest swing bowlers the IPL has ever seen. In a high-voltage IPL 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians in Raipur, the veteran seamer struck three times in his opening spell and etched his name into the record books.

With those wickets, Bhuvneshwar Kumar completed his fourth IPL season with 20 or more wickets and joined an elite club that includes some of the greatest bowlers to have graced the tournament. Like a craftsman sharpening his favourite tool, Bhuvneshwar showed that swing, accuracy and a cool head never go out of fashion.

Bhuvneshwar rips through Mumbai’s top order

After RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first, Bhuvneshwar got to work straight away. He first removed Ryan Rickelton for 2, then sent back Rohit Sharma after the MI opener had raced to 22 off just 10 balls. To cap off a dream spell, he dismissed Mumbai Indians captain Suryakumar Yadav for a golden duck.

At one stage, Mumbai were reeling at 28/3, and Bhuvneshwar had the new ball talking like it was 2016 all over again. His figures of 3/17 in three overs ripped the heart out of MI’s batting lineup and handed RCB complete control in the powerplay.

With this performance, Bhuvneshwar reached the 20-wicket mark in IPL 2026 and became only the fourth bowler in tournament history to register four seasons with 20 or more wickets.

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Most IPL seasons with 20+ wickets

Bhuvneshwar’s 20-plus wicket seasons have now come in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2026. That is a remarkable achievement and proof that class is permanent.

Age is just a number for Bhuvi

There was a time when Bhuvneshwar’s outswinger was the stuff of nightmares for batters. Coming to the present and he is still making top-order batters look like they are playing with a blindfold on.

While younger quicks rely on raw pace, Bhuvi continues to win the old-fashioned way: by nibbling the ball around, hitting the seam and forcing batters into mistakes. It is not flashy but it is brutally effective.

RCB’s trump card in the business end

As the IPL 2026 league stage reaches the business end, Bhuvneshwar has become a priceless asset for RCB. His ability to strike early and set the tone gives the Bengaluru side exactly what they need in pressure games. Time and again, Bhuvi has bowled match winning spells for RCB this season and Sunday night was another one of those.

On a night when the focus was on the big hitters, Bhuvneshwar quietly stole the show. He did not just pick up wickets, he turned back the clock, joined an elite list and showed everyone that you can never rule out a bowler who knows exactly where to land the ball.

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