Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
The Bhuvneshwar Kumar Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 campaign reached a stunning peak in Raipur as the veteran seamer dismantled the Mumbai Indians. Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed a match winning four wicket haul before striking a high pressure six in the final over to secure a thriller for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
This result officially eliminated the Mumbai Indians from the playoffs race while propelling the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the top of the table. Bhuvneshwar Kumar now holds the Purple Cap with 21 wickets, proving that his legendary swing and tactical mind remain as sharp as ever.
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Bowling Masterclass and Tactical Artist
Ambati Rayudu described the 36 year old as a "sort of an artist" after he tore through the Mumbai Indians top order. Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav within the powerplay to stall the opposition early.
"I think it's just his ability and especially on a pitch like that where most of the balls would hit the stumps [that] he is even more lethal," Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. He noted that the knuckle ball used to deceive Rohit Sharma was a perfect example of his control.
The Secret to His Success
Deep Dasgupta pointed out that the veteran has rediscovered the perfect release point reminiscent of his peak years with the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Even at speeds of 134kph, the backspin on the ball was hurrying the world class batters of the Mumbai Indians.
"He's hurrying the batters. The batters' are a little late playing at him. So that just tells you that he's got that release back," Dasgupta observed during the tactical analysis.
Last Over Heroics with the Bat
With nine runs needed from the final three balls, Bhuvneshwar Kumar smashed a crucial six over the off side off Raj Angad Bawa. He later admitted that he enjoyed the match winning shot even more than his four wickets.
"Because I've bowled [well] many times before, I've taken a few wickets as well. But yeah, this is the thing I enjoyed the most," Bhuvneshwar Kumar said after the game.
His high cricket IQ was on display when he declined a risky second run to ensure the right batter faced the final delivery. You can find more match reports and the full points table on the official IPL website.
