Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer, recently shared how his interactions with teammate Virat Kohli have changed over the years. The duo was pivotal in RCB’s historic IPL 2025 victory, marking the team’s first-ever title in 18 years, under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar.

In a candid conversation on the Talk with Manvendra podcast, the 35-year-old spoke about the shift in their bond. He mentioned that their chats these days are centred around family life, a far cry from the light-hearted jokes and playful banter they once enjoyed.

“Things have changed now. When we catch up these days, our conversations are mostly about family or personal matters, as everyone has their own families now. We discuss how life is going outside of cricket. In the past, when we were younger and unmarried, our talks were more about the usual fun and jokes that boys have.

“But I believe that on the field, we remain professional. We don’t need a close bond to perform well, because if RCB has selected me, Virat, or any other player, it’s because they expect us to deliver on the field, regardless of our personal friendships. We all understand our roles on the ground. However, off the field, as I mentioned, things have changed. Everyone has matured, and we’ve all grown older, so naturally, the conversations have shifted,” he added.

In the 2025 IPL season, Bhuvneshwar claimed 17 wickets from 14 matches, while Kohli scored 657 runs across 15 innings, which included eight half-centuries.