- By Namrata Vijay
- Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Final: Royal Challengers Bengaluru first enlisted Kumar in IPL 2009, and after 17 years, 2 purple caps, and 2 trophies. He snatched two wickets in the IPL 2026 summit clash, but the real question is how Bhuvaneshwar Kumar evolved. There's a phrase: batters win you matches, but bowlers win you tournaments. Although this usually connects with the longest format, Bhuvaneshwar proved his worth in T20S this season.
Former Indian cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar have continuously praised this pacer after he dazzled this year. During the summit clash, Bhuvaneshwar elevated his performance, securing match-winning figures of 2/29. After competing in 16 matches this year, he claimed 28 wickets at a stingy economy rate of 7.95, pinpointing accuracy and relentlessly maintaining his line and length, transforming into one of the Bengaluru-based franchise's star players.
During the summit clash, Bhuvaneshwar first removed GT star opener Sai Sudharsan after he accumulated 12 runs off as many balls in the fourth over, and that delivered a huge blow for the host. In his first over during the power play, he restricted the host to just 11 runs and managed to pile pressure. He then unleashed precision during the death overs as he dismissed Jason Holder and yielded only 18 runs in his last over.
Bhuvneshwar dominates in a batter-friendly era
The IPL has recently transformed into a batter-friendly tournament. Flat surfaces, small boundaries, imposing field restrictions, and the impact player rule have shifted the tournament in batters' favor.
Even amid these challenges, Bhuvaneshwar still dominated. The 36-year-old pacer overhauled all aspects of his bowling and tormented batters throughout this edition.
The key adjustment that impressed Sachin
Sachin Tendulkar argues that Bhuvaneshwar captured success by executing a subtle yet important technical change.
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"Last season, Bhuvneshwar's outswingers and inswingers tended to swing more. This season, he has developed a different variation, bowling much straighter. He's using a wobble seam more often, which makes it difficult for batters to read whether the ball will move in or away. On top of that, his line and length have been extremely accurate", he said.
According to the former Indian cricketer, the combination of unleashing the wobble seam and driving straighter deliveries propelled Bhuvaneshwar to success this year.
In a tournament tilting toward power hitters, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar demonstrated that raw skill and the ability to adapt can still propel a bowler to distinguish between a good side and a champion team.