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Delhi: In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match played on Thursday at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar added a new chapter in the history of IPL. As soon as he took the field against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he completed the 200th match of his IPL career. With this achievement he became the first specialist fast bowler in league history to play 200 matches.

This journey of Bhuvneshwar Kumar is being considered as an inspiration for Indian cricket. He has made his mark in the IPL over the years on the basis of his accurate line-length, swing bowling and excellent performance under pressure. Even at the age of 36, his performance continues to be impressive and his role has been very important in the success of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the current season.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s name is also recorded at a high place in the list of bowlers who have taken the most wickets in IPL. In the 200 matches played so far, he has taken 215 wickets in his name. With this figure, he remains the most successful fast bowler in league history. Ahead of him are only spin bowlers Yuzvendra Chahal and Sunil Narine. At the same time, in the list of fast bowlers, he has left behind veteran players like Jasprit Bumrah and Dwayne Bravo.

IPL journey started from Pune

Bhuvneshwar Kumar started his IPL career in 2011 with Pune Warriors India. He represented this franchise for the first three seasons. He soon attracted the attention of cricket experts with his brilliant swing bowling. His ability to take wickets with the new ball made him different from other bowlers.

After this, in the year 2014, he became a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad and continued playing for the same team for almost a decade. His journey with Hyderabad was very successful, where he gave many memorable performances. He also had an important contribution in the team winning the title in 2016. His economical bowling in the death overs and his habit of taking wickets consistently made him the most reliable player of the franchise.

Before the 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore included him in their team. As an experienced bowler, he has maintained excellent coordination with the new team and is continuously performing effectively.

Joined the special club of Indian players

So far in IPL history, only 12 players have been able to make the record of playing 200 or more matches and the special thing is that all the players are from India. The inclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s name in this list is being considered as a big proof of his long and successful career.

If we talk about bowlers and all-rounders, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is only the third player to reach this feat. Before him, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have achieved this position. Although both the players are spin bowling all-rounders, Bhuvneshwar has become the first player to make this record as a pure fast bowler.

The pride of being part of two champion teams

The special thing about Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s career has been that he has been a part of two different teams that won the IPL title. He performed brilliantly with the ball in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s historic victory in 2016. Now in 2025, he has also tasted title success with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

On the basis of his consistent performance, discipline and fitness, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has included himself among the most reliable fast bowlers in IPL history. This figure of 200 matches is not only a record but also a recognition of his consistency and hard work in Indian cricket.