Bhuvneshwar Kumar has become the first Indian bowler to take 25 or more wickets in multiple IPL seasons. The 36-year-old RCB seamer reached the milestone during the IPL 2026 playoffs, adding to his 26-wicket haul from IPL 2017 when he won the Purple Cap with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
No other Indian fast bowler has managed 25-plus wickets in even one IPL season more than once, making this a record that highlights just how remarkably consistent Bhuvneshwar has been across a career spanning 16 IPL seasons and over 200 matches.
How Has Bhuvneshwar Performed in IPL 2026?
The numbers have been outstanding.
Heading into the playoffs, Bhuvneshwar finished the league stage with 24 wickets from 14 matches at an economy of 8.07 and a strike rate of 13.75. He sat joint-top on the wicket-takers’ chart alongside Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat Titans. His 25th wicket came during the knockout stages, pushing him into record territory.
What makes this season even more impressive is where his wickets have come. 15 of his 24 league-stage wickets fell in the powerplay, confirming his status as the most dangerous new-ball bowler in the tournament. Across his entire IPL career, Bhuvneshwar now holds the record for most powerplay wickets with 81 dismissals in the first six overs.
Additionally, he became the first fast bowler to reach 200 IPL wickets earlier this season when he dismissed CSK’s Ayush Mhatre on April 5. Only Yuzvendra Chahal (224 wickets) has more IPL wickets overall, but Chahal is a spinner. Among pace bowlers, Bhuvneshwar stands alone at the top.
When Did Bhuvneshwar First Hit the 25-Wicket Mark?
That was back in IPL 2017 with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Bhuvneshwar picked up 26 wickets in 14 matches that season and won the Purple Cap for the second consecutive year. He had already won it in 2016 with 23 wickets, but 2017 was his peak. His economy that season was a stunning 7.05, and he was virtually unplayable in the powerplay and at the death.
To this day, Bhuvneshwar remains the only bowler in IPL history to win the Purple Cap in back-to-back seasons. Only Dwayne Bravo and Harshal Patel have won it twice in a career, but never consecutively.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Best IPL Seasons
| Season | Team | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | SRH | 17 | 23 | 7.42 | Purple Cap, IPL title |
| 2017 | SRH | 14 | 26 | 7.05 | Purple Cap (consecutive) |
| 2025 | RCB | 14 | 17 | 7.50 | IPL title (maiden for RCB) |
| 2026 | RCB | 14+ | 25+ | 8.07 | First Indian with 25+ twice |
Between 2016 and 2019, Bhuvneshwar averaged over 18 wickets per season with an economy of just 7.25. That four-year stretch ranks among the most dominant spells by any pacer in IPL history.
Why Is This Record So Hard to Break?
Three reasons make this achievement nearly impossible to replicate.
First, Indian fast bowlers rarely get to bowl all 14 league matches in a season. International commitments, injuries, and squad rotation often limit their availability. Bhuvneshwar’s fitness management, including cutting back on domestic cricket and using the UP T20 League for match preparation, has been key to his longevity.
Second, the IPL is brutally hard on pacers. Flat pitches, small boundaries, and the Impact Player rule all stack the odds against bowlers. Maintaining a 25-wicket pace across an entire season requires consistency that few possess.
Third, Bhuvneshwar has reinvented himself. At 36, he no longer relies purely on swing. He has developed slower balls, knuckle variations, and an improved yorker that has made him one of IPL 2026’s best death bowlers. His ability to adapt across eras separates him from pacers who peak once and fade.
Where Does Bhuvneshwar Stand in All-Time IPL Records?
Beyond the 25-wicket milestone, Bhuvneshwar holds several all-time IPL records:
- 222 career wickets: Second only to Chahal (224) among all IPL bowlers
- 81 powerplay wickets: Most by any bowler in IPL history
- 1,793 dot balls: All-time IPL record
- Two five-wicket hauls: One of only four bowlers to achieve this
- 27 first-over wickets: Second only to Trent Boult (32)
From his debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009 to his record-breaking 2026 season back with RCB, Bhuvneshwar’s IPL journey has come full circle. And at 36, the man from Meerut is still finding new ways to stay ahead of batters half his age.
