Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the greatest bowlers in the history of IPL. The right-arm pacer has a legacy for himself operating across different phases of the game. Bhuvneshwar can take wickets in the powerplay overs and control the flow of runs at the death. While age has got the better of him, Kumar at his prime till 2017 was arguably the best Indian pacer in the league. Bhuvneshwar could single handedly win matches for his team.
His peak was from 2014 to 2017, which also happened to be SRH’s peak. With his bowling prowess and David Warner’s batting abilities, SRH won their first and only title to date. Bhuvneshwar became the first and only bowler to claim purple caps in back-to-back seasons (2016 and 2017). He played majorly for two teams – Pune Warriors India and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Ahead of his 2025 season with RCB, it is time to look at Bhuvneshwar’s best performances in the IPL history.
1. 4/14 against Rajasthan Royals in 2014
Bhuvneshwar’s IPL peak was from 2014 to 2017. The beginning of his legacy was established with a particular spell in the match against RR at Narendra Modi Stadium. RR won the toss and opted to bowl first. On a slow surface, the visiting side was reduced to a total of just 134 runs. Barring Shikhar Dhawan, no other batter had a great impact on their side.
Defending 135 wasn’t easy even on a slow surface. But Bhuvneshwar bowled a dream spell and no batter had an answer for him. In his spell of 4 overs, Kumar claimed 4 wickets and conceded just 14 runs. He claimed the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane, Rajat Bhatia, James Faulkner, and Kane Richardson. His spell helped SRH to register a convincing win by 32 runs.
2. 5/30 against Gujarat Titans in 2023
At the same venue in 2023, SRH took on a dominant side like Gujarat Titans. It was the 62nd match of the season and GT had nearly secured a berth in the playoffs. SRH had to play for their pride, following a disastrous season. With not under any pressure to perform, the right-arm medium pacer delivered his best spell in over five seasons.
GT batted first and scored 188 runs on a surface that was best for batting. While Shubman Gill scored a hundred and Sai Sudarshan assisted him by dropping anchor, it was Bhuvneshwar who shined for SRH. The star bowler claimed 5/30 in his spell of 4 overs, which included the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha, a prime Gill, Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, and Mohammed Shami.
3. 5/19 against Punjab Kings in 2017
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s best spell in IPL was in 2017 against Punjab Kings. In the 19th match of the season at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the home side posted 159 runs on the board, which was slightly about par. SRH needed a brave performance from the bowling unit to defend the target. Manan Vohra was at his best in the night.
While wickets fell rapidly at the other end, the PBKS opener played his part and took his side closer to victory. Bhuvneshwar not only dismissed him when 15 runs were needed to win, but also took four more wickets, including that of Hashim Amla and Glenn Maxwell. His 5/19 in 4 overs played the decisive role in SRH’s 5-run win over the visiting side.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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