India’s experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar is close to creating another record in IPL history. At present, he is just one wicket away from the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 11 of the IPL 2026 season, which will make him the second bowler and first fast bowler to take 200 wickets in IPL history.

Close to the history of 200 wickets
36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs just one wicket to become the second bowler after Yuzvendra Chahal to cross the 200-wicket mark. Chahal currently has 224 wickets, which he has taken in 176 IPL matches.

Change in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s innings
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was initially known as a swing specialist and powerplay bowler, but his game has changed with time. Now he is not only effective with the new ball, but has also strengthened his hold in the death overs. He has knuckleball variations and accurate yorkers, which make him a complete T20 bowler.

Important role for RCB
Bhuvneshwar played a key role in RCB’s title campaign last season. While Josh Hazlewood grabbed the headlines, Bhuvneshwar had quietly contributed by taking 17 wickets in 14 matches. Particularly, his role was important in the death overs, where he took seven wickets, which also included his important contribution in the final against Punjab Kings.

Leading bowler this season
Since Hazlewood has been unavailable at the start of this season, Bhuvneshwar has stepped up as RCB’s main bowler. He made a significant contribution in the opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad by giving away just 31 runs in four overs, with his bowling being particularly effective in the powerplay and death overs.

Bhuvneshwar’s wonderful IPL journey
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL career has been consistently impressive. He is the highest wicket taker in powerplay, he has 80 wickets in his account and his economy rate is 6.52. He has also taken 93 wickets in the death overs, which is behind only Dwayne Bravo.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL career has gone through many phases, including limited playing opportunities at RCB in the early years, then stellar performances at Sunrisers Hyderabad and the achievement of winning back-to-back Purple Caps in 2016 and 2017. However, his performance declined after some time, but he has made a great comeback in recent years.

Since 2023, he has improved his performance and has taken 45 wickets in 45 innings, proving that he is capable of adjusting to the rapidly increasing run rates in T20 cricket.

Now that the high-profile clash between RCB and CSK is about to take place, all eyes will be on Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He is set to cross a historic milestone during this match, which could establish him as one of the finest bowlers in the IPL.

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