Vinay Kumar hails Bhuvneshwar Kumar's impact in RCB's dominant IPL 2026 season
Mumbai, May 25
Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Vinay Kumar praised pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his impact in the Indian Premier League 2026 season for the defending champions. Kumar said, Bhuvneshwar, along with pacers Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam Dar, will look to treat the IPL 2026 playoffs like any other game.
Bhuvneshwar has been one of the core reasons in RCB's impressive IPL 2026 campaign so far. RCB have capped the group stage campaign off brilliantly as they are at the top of the IPL points table with nine wins in 14 matches. They will now look to defeat the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Qualifier 1 clash on Tuesday.
Bhuvneshwar leads the wicket-taking charts this season, having scalped 24 wickets in 14 games at an average of 18.50. GT's Kagiso Rabada, also with 24 wickets to his name, is second on the highest wicket-taking bowlers list
Speaking on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Vinay Kumar said that Bhuvneshwar plays a crucial role in the RCB's bowling attack, both as a key bowler and leader. He praised his disciplined approach alongside Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam, adding that their experience should help the unit stay calm and focused in the playoffs.
"Bhuvneshwar Kumar's role is extremely important for RCB, both as a bowler and as the leader of the attack. He has bowled brilliantly alongside Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam, maintaining a disciplined, almost Test-match-like approach and lengths. With so much experience, I don't think Bhuvneshwar or the bowling attack will take any pressure in the playoffs. They will look to treat the playoffs like any other game and focus on executing their basics," Vinay Kumar said.
Vinay Kumar said that finishing in the top two in the IPL is very important because it gives teams a second chance to reach the final, even if they face a defeat in Qualifier 1, as they get another chance in Qualifier 2. He added that momentum is crucial in a short tournament, so the primary goal should be qualification, followed by securing a top-two finish.
"Finishing in the top two is extremely important in a tournament like the IPL because it gives teams another opportunity to get to the final, even if one game goes wrong. In a shorter format, momentum is everything; once you lose it, it becomes difficult to regain control. That's why the first target should always be qualification, and the second should be finishing in the top two," Vinay Kumar said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Vinay Kumar's analysis is spot on. The way Bhuvi and Hazlewood have been bowling with that old-school line and length is impressive. But I worry about the middle overs - if both openers fail, we might struggle. RCB's batting depth needs to step up too.
Great to see an Indian pacer leading the wickets charts. Bhuvneshwar's revival is a testament to his hard work after those injury setbacks. Rasikh Salam is also coming into his own - RCB's scouting has been excellent! What a turnaround from last season.
Honestly, I'm still cautious. RCB has a history of choking in playoffs, no matter how good the league stage is. Yes, the bowling looks solid with Bhuvi and Co., but can they hold nerve in a pressure knockout? Let's see if experience translates into performance.
Bhuvi's discipline is unmatched. Even on flat decks, he finds a way to contain runs and pick wickets. That Test-match approach Vinay mentioned is exactly what separates him from other T20 bowlers. If RCB wins the title this year, Bhuvi should be the MVP. 🙌
Being a neutral fan, I'm loving this RCB squad this year. The bowling unit looks rock solid - Bhuvi, Hazlewood, Rasikh, plus Chahal in the middle? That's a championship-winning attack. And finishing top of the table shows consistency. Fair play to RCB management!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.