Bhuvneshwar Kumar, one of India’s premier fast bowlers, continues to be a significant figure in Indian cricket despite a prolonged absence from the national team. Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter and current Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batting coach, Dinesh Karthik, has publicly endorsed Bhuvneshwar as India’s best bowler after Jasprit Bumrah, underscoring his consistent performances and unmatched skill in T20 cricket.
A look at Bhuvneshwar’s Career
· International Debut: Bhuvneshwar Kumar began his journey in international cricket on December 25, 2012, against Pakistan in Bengaluru.
· Formats Played: The 34-year-old has represented India in 21 Tests, 121 ODIs, and 87 T20Is.
· IPL Legacy: Bhuvneshwar is India’s most successful fast bowler in IPL history. With 181 wickets in 176 matches, he has been instrumental for teams like Pune Warriors India and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
· T20I Success: He is also the second-highest wicket-taker among pacers in T20I history for India.
In the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar became a top pick.
· Intense Bidding War: The five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians, and Lucknow Super Giants showed strong interest. However, RCB secured his services for an impressive ₹10.75 crore.
· RCB Connection: Bhuvneshwar was previously associated with RCB in 2009-10 but did not feature in any IPL games. He played just one match during the Champions League in 2009.
Dinesh Karthik’s High Praise for Bhuvneshwar
In a video shared by RCB’s official social media, Karthik lauded Bhuvneshwar’s prowess, “Just for the record, I am convinced that he is the best bowler India has after Bumrah even today. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the best T20 bowler.”
Here is the video clip:
RCB’s Auction Planning Docu Series: 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) December 11, 2024
Chinnaswamy has been a struggle for the best of bowlers in the past! One of the priorities was to get a gun bowling unit that can succeed in such batter friendly conditions. And… pic.twitter.com/McVWx8M9U2
This endorsement highlights Bhuvneshwar’s enduring reputation despite his last international appearance being on November 22, 2022.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s resurgence with RCB marks a fresh chapter in his cricketing journey. As he dons the RCB jersey, his vast experience and skillset could prove pivotal for the Bengaluru-based franchise in the upcoming IPL season.
