Bhuvneshwar Kumar Becomes First Fast Bowler to Take 200 IPL Wickets
Bengaluru, April 5, 2026: Fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar etched his name in IPL history by becoming the first pacer to take 200 wickets in the tournament. He achieved the milestone during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Chennai Super Kings, dismissing batter Ayush Mhatre. Kumar joins leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who reached 200 wickets in 2024, making him only the second bowler overall to achieve this landmark.
IPL Career Stats: Longevity and Economy
Bhuvneshwar’s IPL career spans 16 seasons, featuring an impressive economy rate of 7.69. He is among only four bowlers in the IPL with multiple five-wicket hauls and has bowled the joint highest number of maiden overs.
Powerplay Specialist
81 wickets in IPL powerplays – the most in this phase.
27 wickets came in the first over, second only to Trent Boult (32).
Economy rate in powerplays: 6.53, making him one of the most difficult bowlers to attack early in the innings.
Death Overs Expertise
93 wickets in death overs (17-20), only behind Dwayne Bravo (102).
Maintains an economy of 9.52 in the death overs, ranking fifth among bowlers with at least 90 overs bowled.
A Decade with Sunrisers Hyderabad
Bhuvneshwar debuted in the IPL in 2011 for Pune Warriors India, before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2014. Over 11 seasons with SRH:
Played 145 matches and took 157 wickets.
Most matches and wickets for any SRH player in IPL history.
His 48 wickets in Hyderabad remain the highest for any bowler at a home venue.
Only three other bowlers have taken 150+ wickets for a single IPL franchise: Sunil Narine (193 for KKR), Jasprit Bumrah (183 for MI), and Lasith Malinga (170 for MI).
Peak Performance: Purple Cap Success
Between 2014 and 2017, Bhuvneshwar:
Claimed 87 wickets in 59 matches, 17 more than the second-highest.
Won the Purple Cap in 2016 (23 wickets) and defended it in 2017 (26 wickets).
Only bowler to top IPL wicket charts in successive seasons.
Maintained an economy of 7.25 during peak years, ranking fourth among bowlers with 100+ overs.
Key IPL Bunnies
Ajinkya Rahane dismissed 7 times by Bhuvneshwar, scoring only 104 runs off 117 balls.
Parthiv Patel dismissed 6 times in 68 balls.
Major scalps include Virat Kohli, Shane Watson, Sanju Samson, and Shubman Gill – all dismissed four times.
Bhuvneshwar’s remarkable consistency across powerplay and death overs, combined with his longevity, makes him one of the most reliable fast bowlers in IPL history.
Rajat Patidar’s Explosive IPL 2026 Knock for RCB
In IPL 2026, Rajat Patidar starred for RCB, scoring 49 off 19 balls with six sixes in a crucial middle-order innings against Chennai Super Kings. Partnering with Tim David (70* off 25), they shared an unbeaten 99-run stand off 36 balls, turning the match in RCB’s favor.
Patidar’s strike rate against spin: 180.64
Strike rate against pace: 167.04
Excelled in middle overs (7-16) since IPL 2024 with a strike rate of 174.03
Patidar’s ability to dominate both pace and spin, combined with his IPL experience and leadership skills, makes him a strong contender for a middle-order T20I spot for India, despite competition from younger stars like Shreyas Iyer and Riyan Parag.
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