4 min learnMight 12, 2026 07:59 PM IST
With a complete of 21 wickets this season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the moment holds the purple cap on this yr’s IPL. The 36-year-old pacer additionally sits on the second spot within the greater wicket-taker record in IPL historical past with a complete of 219 wickets in 201 matches with an financial system of seven.68 and is simply behind Yuzvendra Chahal’s present tally of 219 wickets in 185 IPL matches. The 21 Take a look at, 121 ODI and 87 T20Is veteran pacer final performed for India within the three-match T2OI sequence in opposition to New Zealand in New Zealand in 2022 and the pacer has shared how he doesn’t take into consideration comeback for India and the way he has stopped making long-term targets.
“I’m not fascinated about a comeback for India. It has been a few years since I’ve stopped retaining or making long-term targets as a result of at any time when I’ve finished that, it has by no means labored for me. I’m pleased that there are 200 matches, so many wickets, within the energy play and on the dying. I feel it’s all a reward for what I’ve finished through the years. There have been good years and unhealthy years additionally. Truthfully, at this level of time, I’m not feeling something particular. In fact, I might be mendacity if I mentioned I cannot really feel it afterward. I feel these reminiscences will come in useful later. However at this level of time, I feel it’s very regular for me,” mentioned Kumar whereas talking in a video launched by Royal Challengers Bengaluru social media handles.
In Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s final match in opposition to Mumbai Indians final week at Raipur, Kumar took 4 wickets on this four-over spell together with the wickets of Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma, Surya Kumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. His three wickets within the energy play additionally meant that Kumar now has the very best variety of wickets in energy play in IPL historical past with a complete of 94 wickets. Final season, when the Bengaluru aspect gained its maiden title, Kumar had taken 17 wickets in 14 matches at a mean of 28.41 and an financial system of 9.29. Kumar spoke about how he has been doing the identical issues earlier as effectively. “I do know 2026 goes effectively. I’m getting wickets, however I’m doing all the identical issues I used to be doing earlier as effectively. In fact, I can say the coaching has been a bit extra, or possibly some issues have improved since I haven’t been taking part in for the nation. Probably the greatest issues is that I get fairly an extended break after the IPL. I feel I play a lot cricket that I keep in contact, and I additionally get sufficient of a break that I’ve time to do different issues,” added Kumar.
Along with his four-wicket haul in opposition to Mumbai Indians at Raipur, Kumar additionally matched Harshal Patel’s report of six three-wickets haul in a single IPL season with Patel having achieved it in 2021. Kumar additionally spoke about counting on fundamentals as a quick bowler and the way the artwork of bowling stays the identical. “I’m positive that the 70’s and 80’s since at any time when cricket has been performed, and until now, the fundamentals are the identical. I do know the format has modified, it’s turn out to be a bit tough for the bowlers as a result of the demand of this recreation (T20) is completely different. It’s a 20-over recreation and the hassle is to attain extra runs however the artwork of bowling—the fundamentals like swinging the ball, having a superb collect, what we usually name a superb clean motion and somebody having categorical tempo or bounce—I feel that’s nonetheless the identical,” concluded Kumar.