Bagging the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar is always a bowler’s dream, and success against him is bound to give you instant recognition, and something similar happened with the boy from Meerut, Bhuvneshwar Kumar. At the age of 19, Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the first-ever bowler to dismiss the legendary batter for a duck in the Ranji Trophy. 

Meeting Tendulkar in the lift ahead of the match and then getting his wicket was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Bhuvi. The out-and-out swing bowler credited his skipper, Mohammad Kaif, for a unique field placement that helped him bag the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. Having played for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit for five years, Bhuvneshwar finally broke into the national side in 2012 for the limited-overs series against Pakistan.

Since his debut, Bhuvneshwar has slowly but steadily become the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack. When he burst onto the scene, Bhuvneshwar was an out-and-out swing bowler. However, his ability to bowl yorkers and slower deliveries at will makes him a potent weapon in whichever team he plays for.

It is worth noting that Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the first Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Test cricket, ODIs and T20Is. He is the only bowler whose first wicket in all three formats of the game was bowled.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar T20I Career

Not many would forget his debuts in both formats. On December 25, 2012, in his T20I debut, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was just too hot to handle for the Pakistani top order. He literally made the ball talk with his prodigious swing. However, Bhuvneshwar had made an immediate impact on the international circuit.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar ODI Career

On December 30, 2012, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a memorable ODI debut and breached Mohammad Hafeez’s defence with the very first delivery of his ODI career. A big inswinger which came back sharply into Hafeez and disturbed his timbers was the beginning of something very special. Ever since his debut, Bhuvneshwar has gone on to establish himself as a potent weapon for India, especially in the limited-overs format.

In the years that followed, Bhuvneshwar grew into a bowler and went on to lead the bowling attack in the limited-overs format.

He was part of the victorious Champions Trophy squad in 2013 and was also named in the Team of the tournament. 

Bhuvneshwar remained a part of the Indian team till the 2019 World Cup, but lost his place to players like Mohammad Siraj and Harshit Rana.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Test Career

Bhuvneshwar made his Test debut on February 22, 2013, in the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He bagged 6 wickets in 4 matches and showed his batting skills when he stitched a match-winning partnership with MS Dhoni in the opening Test.

Bhuvneshwar has been in and out of the Test side. Owing to a big pool of fast bowlers, Bhuvneshwar has found it difficult to cement his place in the longest format. However, he continues to be in and around the radar for his ability to swing the ball. In favourable conditions, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a go-to option for his captain.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Career

Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his IPL debut in 2011 for the Pune Warriors India. Though signed by RCB earlier in his career, his official entry into IPL matches came with Pune, where he showcased his potential as a young fast bowler before becoming a legendary figure with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

It was in the 2014 Auctions that SRH acquired his services, and since then, he has been an indispensable part of the unit. He played a major role in SRH’s triumphant campaign in 2016, bagging 23 wickets in 17 matches. Bhuvneshwar went a notch higher in the next season when he finished as the leading wicket-taker with 26 scalps.

He remains the only bowler to win consecutive Purple Caps, taking 23 wickets in 2016 and 26 in 2017. Furthermore, he holds the all-time tournament record for the most dot balls bowled. 

Acquired by RCB for INR 10.75 Crore, he took 17 wickets to help drive their historic 2025 title run. Recognising his immense championship impact, RCB officially retained the veteran spearhead for the 2026 season.

(As of April 2026)